Candidates nearly tied in newest survey

A new poll shows a much tighter race for Florida’s governor.

A survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, Inc. of Jacksonville released Tuesday shows Democrat Andrew Gillum with 45 percent to Republican Ron DeSantis’s 44 percent.

The poll of 815 likely voters, conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, was done in conjunction with Leadership Florida to determine which candidates will participate on their Oct. 24 debate at Broward College.

It shows a race well within the 3.5 percentage point margin of error, a vast difference from many polls since the August primary that show Gillum with sizeable leads.

A Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters released Sept. 26 had Gillum up 9 points, and an NBC News/Marist poll of likely voters from Sept. 26 had Gillum up 5 points.

The two candidates were the only ones to qualify for the Oct. 24 debate. The only other debate will be a Spanish language debate in Orlando, on Oct. 16 at The Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center, hosted by Orlando station Telemundo 31.

It will be taped at noon and broadcast at 7 p.m. on Telemundo 31 and three other Telemundo stations in South Florida, Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. It will also be streamed on Telemundo websites and mobile apps.

The election will be held Nov. 6.