The latest Axios-Ipsos Latino poll shows that Gov. Ron DeSantis’s standing among the group has increased seven percent since the last poll was conducted in December. Poll respondents indicated that inflation is a forefront issue, leading to a defection of support from Democrat policies.
46 percent of respondents in March had a favorable opinion of DeSantis, up from 39 percent late last year. Partisanship played a strong role in key issues; inflation was a top worry for 52 percent of polled Republicans, 32 percent of independents, and 28 percent of Democrats. COVID response and regulation was a primary concern for 25 percent of Democrat respondents, but just 7 percent of Republicans.
“Getting prices under control is very clearly the number one priority for the majority of Hispanics and Latinos, and it underscores the challenges Biden is facing now,” said Ipsos pollster and senior vice president Chris Jackson.
Additionally, slightly fewer Latino-Americans say the Democratic party represents people like them than in December (32 percent vs. 38 percent)
Roughly three-fourths (74 percent) stated that a strong work ethic is very important to succeeding economically in America while nearly all (94 percent) agree it is very or somewhat important. Those belonging to the demographic age fifty and older were more likely to say hard work as a means of success is very important than those under 50.
The GOP found success among Latino voters in Florida during the most recent Presidential election. While support for Trump among Cuban-Americans has always been reliably strong, not just for Trump, but Republican candidates at large (see Marco Rubio), his backing among Latinos in Florida who do not identify as Cuban or Puerto Rican went up significantly, to 50 percent, according to NBC News exit polls.
According to an additional NBC News exit poll following the 2020 election, 45 percent of Latino voters in Florida supported Trump, up by 10 percentage points from 2016.
Miami-Dade, the state’s largest county, dramatically shifted from being a reliably blue county that Hillary Clinton won by 30 points in 2016 to what some experts are now calling a purple county after Joe Biden won by just 7 points, according to the poll.
DeSantis looks to tap into the same Latino fanfare that Trump was able to draw out. As of the time of this writing, DeSantis holds large polling leads over each of his gubernatorial opponents and appears to be on his way to a second term at Florida’s helm.
Strong Latino support from his home state, however, likely levels out to a moot point — thanks to a war chest of fundraising and preexisting support — for the gubernatorial race, but could be key in driving momentum for a possible 2024 run for the White House.
Though no official announcement has been made regarding what the governor has in store, it is highly speculated that Floridians could see their leader on the debate stage against the likenesses of Rubio, Trump, and Ted Cruz.
In the instance that DeSantis is able to win Florida in a primary against a heavyweight like Trump on the back of Latino support, it could indicate that his favorability ratings are sky-high nationwide throughout all demographics and age groups.