A poll published by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) on Tuesday found that President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis maintain net positive approval ratings among registered voters in Florida.

The survey of 871 active voters found that 47 percent viewed Trump favorably, while 45 percent held an unfavorable opinion. One percent of respondents claimed they have never heard of the president. DeSantis, meanwhile, received a 48 percent favorable rating, with 43 percent expressing an unfavorable view.

Trump remains a dominant force among Republican voters, with 94 percent of those who supported him in the 2024 election reporting a favorable opinion. DeSantis, who is in his second term as Florida governor, also retains broad support within the state’s Republican base, with 91 percent of Trump voters indicating a positive view of him.

“Unsurprisingly, registered Republicans have a much higher opinion than the Democrats in our sample of both Trump and DeSantis,” said Dr. Michael Binder, PORL faculty director and professor of political science. “Not only that, but almost everyone (94%) who said they voted for Trump in 2024 reported a favorable opinion of him. Even with the sweeping changes implemented since he took office, so far it seems that Trump’s supporters in Florida are still along for the ride.”

As Florida moves toward the 2026 gubernatorial race, the poll also gauged early perceptions of potential candidates. First Lady Casey DeSantis led in name recognition and favorability among the field, with 30 percent of respondents viewing her favorably (57 percent among Republicans) and 22 percent unfavorably, though 33 percent indicated they had never heard of her. Other potential candidates, including Rep. Matt Gaetz and Attorney General Ashley Moody, saw mixed ratings, with Gaetz receiving the highest unfavorable rating at 39 percent.

“Casey DeSantis was the top early pick for potential Republican primary candidates when we asked back in late 2023, albeit with only 22% support,” said Binder. “She likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady,” Binder commented, “but most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition–some suffering more than others. That said, I expect we’ll see a few of them become household names by the time the August 2026 primary rolls around.”

The UNF PORL poll was conducted between February 5 and 14 using a stratified sampling method to ensure regional representation. The survey carries a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.