Gov.’s job approval rises in new poll

Also shows big leads in match-ups over Fried and Crist

Gov Ron DeSantis’ favorability ratings have rebounded after seeing a drop amid the pandemic and unemployment crisis last year, according to a poll from MasonDixon Polling & Strategy released Tuesday.

DeSantis also holds comfortable leads over Democrats Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist, his two most high-profile potential challengers for reelection in 2022, the poll found.

DeSantis’ approval rating has increased 8 points since July, going from 45% approval to 53%. That still is not at the level it was in 2019 as he portrayed himself as a moderate and reached 62% approval.

His disapproval rating has also dropped 7 points from 49% to 42%.

Southeast Florida delivered the lowest approval rating at 34%, and the strongest disapproval at 58%. Central Florida, which includes the Orlando area and The Villages, gave DeSantis some of his highest numbers, with a 59% approval rating.

In a matchup with Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat, DeSantis leads 51% to 42%. DeSantis led Fried among independents 58% to 29%.

But Fried still has room to introduce herself to Florida voters, with 37% of respondents saying they are unfamiliar with her.

DeSantis also leads Crist 52% to 41%, with 60% support among independents. Crist, a former Republican governor, became an independent to run for U.S. Senate in 2010 and lost to Republican Marco Rubio. He won the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014 but lost to Rick Scott. He is now a Democratic member of the U.S. House from St. Petersburg.

The poll of 625 registered Florida voters was conducted from Feb. 24-28. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.