UNF poll finds support for Casey DeSantis as governor

Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady, might be the early favorite to replace her husband in office, according to a new poll by the University of North Florida.

Casey DeSantis received a 30% favorable rating in the poll released Tuesday by UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab. Twenty-two percent had an unfavorable opinon, and 33% said they had never heard of her.

Among other possible Republican candidates, former congressman Matt Gaetz had a 39% unfavorable rating, with 18% favorable and 33% unfamiliar with his name. A majority of respondents also said they had never heard of U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody (54%), U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (66%) and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson (79%).

Among people who were familiar with those candidates, respondents found Moody and Donalds more favorable than unfavorable. Simpson was an even split of 4% in either direction.

Casey DeSantis “likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady,” Michael Binder, a political science professor and faculty director of the public opinion lab, said in a news release. “But most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition — some suffering more than others.”

Article continues below

More from Jax Today

On tap this weekend: World of Nations and more

#AskJAXTDY | Why not put power lines under the river at Jaxport?

Proposed ordinance bans illegal immigrants in Jax

Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.

Binder noted that Casey DeSantis was a top early pick among potential Republican primary candidates when UNF asked back in late 2023 — although she had only 22% support.

Gov. Ron DeSantis this month downplayed the possibility of his wife’s running. The suggestions are flattering, he said during an interview on Fox News, “but this is not anything new. People have been asking her to do this for a long time, but she’s not seeking to do anything.”

The survey also asked respondents’ opinion of current officeholders. Forty-seven percent had a favorable opinion of President Donald Trump and 45% unfavorable. One percent said they had never heard of him.

Gov. DeSantis received 48% favorable and 43% unfavorable, with 3% saying they had never heard of him.

The poll included 871 active registered Florida voters from Feb. 5 to 14. The overall margin of error was +/- 3.7 percentage points

On other topics:

• The Gulf: A majority did not support renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, with 58% opposing it strongly or somewhat. Thirty-one percent expressed support for renaming the Gulf.

• Marijuana: Sixty-seven percent supported allowing adults in Florida to possess recreational marijuana. Thirty-two opposed it. (In the 2024 general election, Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana failed to pass with 56% of the vote, four percentage points short of the 60% needed.)

• Insurance and housing: Thirty-four percent indicated that housing and property insurance costs are the top issue facing Florida. Twenty-one percent pointed to the economy, jobs and inflation as the biggest problems, followed distantly by immigration and education, each with 9%. Concern among Florida voters over housing costs and homeowners’ insurance has seen a big jump the last few years, Binder said. In 2022, only 2% of respondents said housing costs were the most important problem.

• Abortion: Fifty-four percent of respondents said they think Florida’s abortion laws should be less strict. Ten percent said more strict, and 33% said the laws should remain as they are.