TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A new poll released by Mason-Dixon Friday morning finds U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as the current Republican and Democrat leaders in Florida’s race for governor.
Republican Ron DeSantis has opened up a double digit lead in polling over Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam. DeSantis currently leads Putnam with 41 percent to Putnam’s 29 percent in a poll of likely Republican voters.
Putnam was previously in the lead. “It is likely that President Donald Trump’s endorsement of DeSantis is the driving factor behind the shift in the race,” according to Mason Dixon Poll analysts.
On the Democratic side, attorney and former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham holds a 9-point lead over her nearest democratic rival, former Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine.
Graham leads with 27 percent among likely Democratic voters followed by Levine at 18 percent, businessman Jeff Greene at 12 percent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum at 10 percent and businessman Chris King at 7 percent.
“Graham is benefitting as the only female candidate, receiving the support of 30 percent of Democratic women,” according to Mason Dixon Poll analysts.
The poll was conducted by Mason Dixon Polling & Strategy, Inc. of Jacksonville from July 23 through July 25, 2018. 625 registered Florida voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. All indicated they were “likely to vote” in the November general election. The margin for error is 4.5 percent.
