One day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his final State of the State Address to legislators, new polling from Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows that the governor’s approval remains healthy overall but has slipped among key voter groups — particularly independents and women.
According to the survey, 50% of Florida voters approve of DeSantis’s job performance, while 46% disapprove and 4% are unsure. Although still positive, the numbers reflect the governor’s lowest approval rating since taking office and represent a three-point drop from the 53% approval measured last March.
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The declines vary across demographic groups. Among voters with no party affiliation, DeSantis’s approval fell 10 points, from 51% to 41%. Support among Hispanic voters dropped from 57% to 49%, while approval among Black voters decreased from 16% to just 7%. His standing also softened among older voters, with approval among voters 50 and older declining from 56% to 52%.
The poll also shows DeSantis now underwater with women: 49% disapprove of his performance compared to 45% who approve. Male voters, in contrast, remain supportive, with 56% approving and 42% disapproving.
Regional results vary across the state. The governor maintains strong support in North Florida (56% approval), Central Florida (54%), and Southwest Florida (57%). His weakest regional standing is in Southeast Florida, where 41% approve and 56% disapprove.
Despite the movement among subgroups, Mason-Dixon notes that DeSantis’s 50% overall approval rating remains relatively solid, even if lower than his previous highs. The firm points to several possible factors behind the decline, including broader national headwinds facing Republicans, voter fatigue near the end of a two-term governorship, and mixed public response to some of the governor’s more recent policy positions.
The poll indicates that DeSantis’s shifting approval numbers are unlikely to have immediate political consequences, as the governor has not announced any forthcoming plans following the end of his term. Mason-Dixon emphasizes that while the drop is notable, it does not signal a collapse in support: “Overall, a 50% approval rating is not bad – it is simply somewhat lower than what he has enjoyed throughout his tenure.”
The survey was conducted January 8–12, 2026, and included 625 registered Florida voters interviewed by live telephone callers. Participants were randomly selected from a voter registration-matched list that included both landline and cell numbers. The poll has a margin of error of ±4 percentage points, with higher margins for demographic subgroups.
