Poll puts Casey DeSantis, Byron Donalds neck and neck in GOP Primary for Governor

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Another poll shows First Lady Casey DeSantis with the slightest edge over U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in the Republican field for Governor. But the numbers also show high unfavorable ratings as she weighs a run.

The James Madison Institute (JMI) published survey results that show the First Lady leading the field of GOP contenders to succeed her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis.

About 29% of likely Republican voters support Casey DeSantis, compared to 28% who favor Donalds. Both far outpace former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the next closest contender at 10%.

That puts Casey DeSantis and Donalds within the poll’s 2.77-percentage-point margin of error of one another.

No other candidate broke double digits. Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez polls around 7% and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has 5% support. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson only registers 4% support in the poll, while Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett receives 3% support and about 1% back former Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. About 13% remain undecided.

This poll was conducted between May 5 and 7. The same pollster also surveyed Republican voters from April 15 to 22. At that point, Casey DeSantis led Donalds 28% to 22%, so the gap between the two narrowed significantly.

Pollsters also checked on the favorability of the most prominent Republicans running for Governor. The May results show Casey DeSantis has higher favorable and unfavorable ratings than Donalds.

About 38% of all voters in Florida hold a favorable view of the First Lady, including 60% of Republicans, and 15% view her very favorably. But 31% have an unfavorable opinion, with 22% offering a very unfavorable view.

By contrast, about 26% of voters have a favorable opinion of Donalds, a Naples Republican, with 12% giving very high marks. About 38% of Republicans have a positive opinion. Meanwhile, 13% have an unfavorable view of him, with only 8% offering a very unfavorable opinion. And only 4% of Republican voters think negatively of the Congressman.

About 23% have no opinion on Donalds, and 37% say they are unfamiliar with him. But only 9% are unaware of DeSantis, and 22% have no opinion of her.

Additionally, about 65% of Republican voters say they would think more highly of a candidate with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which Donalds has. At this point, only 38% of Republicans are aware of that endorsement, and 50% are not, with the remainder unsure.