Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former Democratic U.S. Rep. David Jolly are clear front-runners in a Florida gubernatorial poll released Thursday by the James Madison Institute in Tallahassee.
The sampling of 1,400 registered voters in Florida, with margin of error +/- 2.6%, also found 74% support for the proposed homestead property tax amendment.
Voters are headed to the polls in less than two weeks; the primary is Aug. 18.
Donalds (49%) easily led Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (18%), former House Speaker Paul Renner (8%) and businessman James Fishback (4%). Jolly snagged 47% among the Democrats with no other candidate even getting 5%.
In hypotheticals given to respondents related to Nov. 3, Donalds led Jolly 45%-38% and Collins led Jolly 44%-39%.
Florida Amendment 3, on the ballot in November, is also known as the Homestead Tax Exemptions, Property Assessments, and Spending Restrictions Amendment. The yes vote in support drew 74%, including 44% saying they strongly do so.
Voters casting a yes vote approve of an increase in the homestead tax exemption for nonschool taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with the amount in 2029 indexed to inflation. Yes also means new residents receive a smaller exemption until they’ve lived in Florida for five years.
Yes also means a decrease of the cap on how much the assessed value of nonhomestead properties such as rentals and commercial buildings can increase each year from 10% to 5%, with exception for school district taxes. And a yes vote means a limit on how counties and municipalities can spend property tax revenue on public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resource projects and flood control, local bonds, employee retirement benefits, and government operations.
Voting no will oppose constitutional amendment to increase the homestead tax exemption; decrease the cap on how much the assessed value of non-homestead properties can increase; and limit how counties and municipalities can spend property tax revenue.
Legislative staff have estimated, if the bill passes, local government revenue decrease of $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2028 and $8.4 billion in fiscal year 2029.
Elsewhere in the poll, 9 in 10 say costs are increasing; 91% support requiring healthcare providers, hospitals and pharmacies to provide clear, upfront price information before nonemergency treatements or prescriptions; and 49% oppose data centers against 40% supporting the state taking steps to attract new data center investment.
On education, 85% support additional college-credit options for high school students beyond AP courses; 77% support converting underused malls or retail space into K-12 learning centers; 66% support larger school choice scholarships for students in low-income neighborhoods; and 64% support public schools offering individual courses for part-time students.
In regard to Florida’s redistricting efforts ahead of this election, 64% said they knew about it and 51% say it has no effect on their intent to vote.
The poll found 62% of Floridians hopeful about the America’s future as it celebrates 250 years as a nation, and 79% said no changes for Mount Rushmore.