Republican Byron Donalds holds a 7-point advantage over Democrat David Jolly in Florida’s governor race with less than a month until the November election, according to an exclusive NBC6/Telemundo Station Group poll that reveals sharp divides along gender and racial lines.
Governor Race Shows Clear Gender Split
Donalds commands 48% support compared to Jolly’s 41%, with 1% backing an independent candidate and 10% remaining undecided. The survey exposes a significant gender gap, with men favoring Donalds 55% to 33% while women support Jolly 49% to 41%. Both candidates seek to replace Governor Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek reelection after serving eight years in office. The race breaks down predictably along party lines, with Republicans backing Donalds 87% to 4% and Democrats supporting Jolly 85% to 19%.
White voters overwhelmingly favor Donalds at 59% to 30%, while Black voters back Jolly 76% to 10%. Hispanic voters narrowly support Donalds 48% to 43%, a margin that could prove decisive in November. Independent voters lean toward Jolly 47% to 28%, suggesting the Democrat’s path to victory depends on mobilizing crossover appeal beyond his party base.
Senate Race and Property Tax Amendment
In the U.S. Senate contest, Republican Ashley Moody leads Democrat Angie Nixon 50% to 40%, with independent candidate Neil Gillespie capturing 2% and 8% undecided. Moody draws strength from male voters at 57% to 31%, while Nixon holds a narrower advantage with women at 48% to 43%. The racial breakdown mirrors the governor’s race, with white voters supporting Moody 61% to 29% and Black voters backing Nixon 81% to 10%.
Florida’s Amendment 3, proposing to increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, receives 55% support against 26% opposition. However, the measure falls short of the 60% threshold required for constitutional amendments to pass. Supporters cite excessive property taxes as their primary concern, while opponents worry about potential cuts to local services.
Trump Approval and Economic Concerns
President Trump’s job approval sits evenly divided at 48% approving and 48% disapproving among Florida voters. Men approve 55% to 41%, while women disapprove 54% to 43%. Economic anxiety dominates voter concerns, with 30% identifying inflation and cost of living as the greatest influence on their voting decision. When asked about their financial situation compared to two years ago, 21% report being much worse off financially, while only 12% say they are much better off. Grocery prices emerged as the top concern affecting everyday expenses at 26%, followed by income not keeping pace with rising costs at 17%.