Registered Florida Voters Reflect Partisan Split, FSC Center For Polling And Policy Research Finds

A new poll just released by the Florida Southern College Center for Polling and Policy Research finds that races for Florida’s highest offices continue to be close. 

The “2018 Florida General Election Poll” is a telephone-based survey administered by live callers to a randomly selected group of registered voters in Florida. The poll asks these likely voters who they will be supporting in the upcoming governor’s race and congressional elections, as well as their evaluation of President Trump’s performance in office.

Dr. Zachary Baumann, director of the Florida Southern College Center for Polling and Policy Research, says “the survey shows a narrow lead for Democrat Andrew Gillum (47.13 percent) over Republican Ron DeSantis (43.18 percent); however, this is not outside the poll’s margin of error. While our results show a small amount of separation between the candidates, this race is still up for grabs.”

Poll results further show incumbent Bill Nelson is locked in a tie with Governor Rick Scott for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat, signaling that the race continues to be tight. Additionally, when asked which party respondents wish to see controlling the U.S. House of Representatives after November’s elections, there is an effective tie between those who would like to see Republicans maintain control and those who would like Democrats to reclaim the majority.

Finally, President Trump continues to be influential in how voters evaluate candidates, with 54 percent indicating he will be extremely or very important in their decision making this election season.

The Center’s two-minute poll was conducted between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. over the course of five evenings, Oct. 1-5. Responses to the academic survey were collected by a group of 14 dedicated students from FSC’s Department of History and Political Science. The students received 476 responses.

“This survey would not have been possible without the dedication and support of FSC students, faculty and administration,” Dr. Baumann said. “The Florida Southern College Center for Polling and Policy Research is here to further the College’s mission of preparing students through the use of dynamic and engaged learning opportunities.”

For more information about the “2018 Florida General Election Poll” and its findings, contact Dr. Zachary Baumann at 863-680-4962 or zbaumann@flsouthern.edu. Survey results, charts, poll questions and methodology are available at the Center’s official website, www.flsouthern.edu/cppr.