New poll in Florida governor’s race confirms that no one knows who the candidates are

by | Feb 27, 2018


If there is one thing that the candidates for Florida governor have in common, it’s that most voters don’t know who they are. That’s the finding of a new poll released today by Quinnipiac University.

The poll shows Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam–the former state lawmaker, former member of Congress and the winner of two statewide elections for agriculture commissioner–is the best known of the seven current or potential candidates, but 75 percent of the voters still don’t know who he is.

The other six candidates or expected candidates are unknown to between 81 percent to 93 percent of the voters.

“In the governor’s race, none of the candidates is well-known,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “Florida voters can expect massive – and probably nasty – TV advertising as the candidates for governor try to introduce themselves, and their opponents, to the electorate.”

On the Republican side following Putnam, 83 percent of the voters say they don’t know enough about U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, while 86 percent say they don’t enough about House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is expected to enter the race once the legislative session is over.

For the Democrats, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is the best known of the four candidates, but still 81 percent of the voters say they don’t know enough about him. While 84 percent said they don’t enough about U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, followed by Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum with 89 percent not knowing who he is and Orlando area businessman Chris King with 93 percent.

Without naming candidates, Quinnipiac asked voters which party they would likely vote for in the race for governor.  Voters said by a margin of 45 percent to 37 percent that they would vote for a Democratic candidate for governor this year. Independent voters go Democratic 39 – 28 percent.

Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,156 Florida voters from February 23 – 26. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points.

6 Comments

  1. Richard Paul Dembinsky

    Good Morning: Ladies and Gentlemen; NO joking these 4 democrats are sad. AS a democratic longer than anyone should be a democrat I truly believe the Republican nominee will win by at least 10 percent. WE as democrats don’t have a REAL democrat willing to do and say the things democrats are “known” for. Now, if you are sitting down I will attempt to shock YOU.. A new candidate will be on the democratic party ballot, but he will NOT campaign. This will demonstrate to the world how poor these democrats really are. onballot.com, listed at politics1.com, USelections.com thegreenpapers.com ballotpedia whocareshalloffame.com Call me if YOU have $7816.38 to be a candidate…YOU would do a much better job than ANY of these democrats. Please Run. Richard

    • Diane Heller

      Dembinsky, if you’re a Democrat, I’m a hen.

  2. Richard Paul Dembinsky

    Andrew Gillum, should stop talking about such issues; “early education” cities with walls etc. He is so far off real important topics he will not win.

    Philip Levine, he has a son a few months old but I don’t believe Philip Levine really would be happy in Tallahassee. (I don’t believe Philip Levine is married); He likes to say the further north in Florida the more southern YOU are…this alone should prevent Philip Levine from receiving any votes in Central Florida and those in Jacksonville should vote for anyone else.

    Gwen Graham, should run as a Republican she is more republican than anyone I know that is a Republican.

    Mr. King, buy lottery tickets for the poor and maybe you will have a few happy people with your 2 million dollars.

    386 314 3646 anytime you want to discuss MY OPINIONS or express YOUR Views directly to a gubernatorial candidate. 24/7

  3. Dj

    Republican nominee Ron Desantis or Adam putnaham will win they are proud NRA members and 2nd amendment supporters and have the backing of multimillon and fortune 500 companies and this is NRA country/state and we turn out more than anyother voters and we wont vote for canadates who want to push gun control and asssualt weapons ban we didnt stand for it then or now i have to agree that a republican nominee will win by at least 10 points at least imbetting on Adam putnaham i know it will be a republican for sure demcraps are nincompoops that just cant win in florida period they have lost to every republican govenor runner for the last 20yrs from charlie christ and scott twice they Couldn’t win a coin toss if you gave them heads and tails

  4. John Robert Glendenning

    As long as they are NRA – they got my vote = Screw the Demo-Craps!

  5. `Larry Meredith

    This article about people not knowing who’s who, is not a surprise. People just don’t pay attention and especially now with one of the most important elections for Florida, let alone the country, and they don’t know at least WHO the front runners are, when it’s all over the news every single night and day??? They are obviously OBLIVIOUS to their surroundings which is going to bite them right in the ole poop chute!!Idiots!!