In February of 2025, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds received the backing of President Trump to be the state’s next governor. However, one year later, many Florida GOP primary voters remain uncertain about whether Donalds is the best choice to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
A new poll by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida, (UNF) finds 36% of GOP are undecided about who to pick for Governor.
That’s followed by Congressman Byron Donalds at 28%, Casey DeSantis (who hasn’t launched a campaign) at 24%. Even with the unannounced candidacy of Casey DeSantis, the UNF poll’s margin of error is +/- 4.38 points which put her in a statistical tie with Donalds.
Take Casey DeSantis out of the mix, and things get worse for Donalds. The 36% of the undecided GOP vote jumps to 51%.
The poll also says 64% of Casey supporters were unsure who they would vote for if she didn’t run.
Behind DeSantis is James Fishback (4%), LT. Gov. Jay Collins (3%) and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, around 1%.
The Donalds’ campaign highlights that, in the UNF poll, when voters learn the President has endorsed the Congressman, his numbers increase to 47%.
But the same UNF poll asked GOP voters whose endorsement carried more weight, Governor DeSantis or President Trump.
Forty-Two percent of GOP voters said an endorsement from Gov. Ron DeSantis would have a larger influence than President Trump, who received just 32%.
The poll consisted of 657 likely Republican voters conducted between Feb. 16-20.
