Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) are seen by many as likely contenders for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, but new polling and feedback from focus groups in the Sunshine State suggest the two may be in big trouble as they seek re-election this November.
Campaign analysts Rich Thau and Matt Steffee note in an article for The Bulwark that many of the Florida swing voters — who voted for Trump in 2016 but switched to Biden in 2020 — are not impressed by DeSantis or Rubio.
Let’s start with the likely contest between DeSantis and former governor Charlie Crist. If the governor’s race in November is indeed DeSantis versus Crist, nine respondents said they would take Crist, two would take DeSantis, and one was undecided. Our swing voters described DeSantis as “power-hungry,” “petty,” “an opportunist,” “egotistical,” “anti-abortion,” and a “bull in a china shop.”
Swing voters in the focus groups were also very opposed to some of DeSantis’ signature issues:
Our swing voters—four independents, one Republican, and seven Democrats—were unanimously opposed to the Parental Rights in Education Act, often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law by its critics. They also unanimously opposed the Stop WOKE Act, which DeSantis signed (and a judge has now suspended enforcement of, pending lawsuits) meant to keep “critical race theory” out of schools and workplaces.
Rubio — who is opposed by Rep. Val Demings (D) didn’t fare much better and was referred to as a “puppet,” “absent,” “a coward,” and “a sellout.”
Thomas, 27, from Coral Gables, explained, “[Rubio is] standing in the way of progress at every turn. Even if he’s not directly proposing something, he’s denying it a chance to be heard—I’m talking about a bill or an idea just based on party-line vote alone as opposed to actually reading through it and thinking about it. I would say the constant negativity [from Rubio is what’s troubling].”
Polling shows the two races much closer than they should be considering that DeSantis and Rubio are incumbents. But polls can’t accurately depict what’s happening on the ground in a state as large and diverse as Florida, and both men can expect some extremely tense moments as the votes are counted later this year.
