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.