New polls project competitive race for Florida governor

As new poll numbers project a competitive race for Florida governor, Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds is calling for three debates against the likely Democratic nominee, David Jolly.”Three opportunities for Floridians to compare two very different visions for our state’s future,” Donalds posted on X. “I’ll defend Florida’s record on freedom, economic growth, public safety, and common-sense leadership.”Get through your primary, and we’ll talk,” Jolly responded in his own post on X. Florida Republicans have more than 1.5 million more registered voters than Florida Democrats. “So, you would think, based on that, that Republicans should win fairly easily, as they did in 2022 and 2024 in Florida, but the polls are suggesting right now it’s pretty tight,” UCF political science professor Aubrey Jewett said.The latest poll from the left-leaning Change Research gives Jolly the edge, 46% to Donalds’ 40%.According to the newest survey from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab, Donalds leads the likely November matchup 46% to 41%.President Trump’s declining approval rating is a factor in making the race for governor competitive, Jewett said. “Many Floridians are concerned about affordability,” Jewett said, “and President Trump said that he was going to do something about affordability when he was elected president a couple of years ago, and so far, it hasn’t happened.”Donalds entered the race with an endorsement from President Trump. He’s also hit the campaign trail with Republican Senator Ashley Moody.While he’s avoided debating other GOP hopefuls like Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, businessman James Fishback and former House Speaker Paul Renner, Donalds recently told WESH 2 he’d commit to a debate against Jolly.”Oh, we’re going to do that,” Donalds said. “But stay tuned. We got some more information coming.”During a campaign stop in Orlando on Saturday, Jolly criticized Donalds for receiving millions of dollars in campaign contributions from special interest groups.”Byron’s going to fight for the data centers. Byron’s going to fight for the for-profit schools. Byron’s going to fight for the utilities, for the gambling interests of the state’s and for the insurance companies that keep jacking up rates on us,” Jolly told supporters. “Gwen Graham and I are going to fight for everybody in this room and everybody across the state of Florida.”The Friends of Byron Donalds political committee has been running an ad called “Jacked Up” on the issue of AI data centers promising to protect Florida ratepayers from higher utility bills. “I stand with President Trump and Governor DeSantis to protect Florida families and communities from data centers,” Donalds says in the ad.This is just one of several spots that’s part of a $20 million statewide TV and digital ad blitz for the Donalds campaign. “The good news for (Donalds) is he’s raised a ton of money,” Jewett said. “The bad news for him is he’s raised a ton of money, and he’s already been spending a ton of money, but the race is still pretty close.”Monday was the deadline for Floridians to register to vote in the primary election on Aug. 18.

As new poll numbers project a competitive race for Florida governor, Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds is calling for three debates against the likely Democratic nominee, David Jolly.

“Three opportunities for Floridians to compare two very different visions for our state’s future,” Donalds posted on X. “I’ll defend Florida’s record on freedom, economic growth, public safety, and common-sense leadership.

“Get through your primary, and we’ll talk,” Jolly responded in his own post on X.

Florida Republicans have more than 1.5 million more registered voters than Florida Democrats.

“So, you would think, based on that, that Republicans should win fairly easily, as they did in 2022 and 2024 in Florida, but the polls are suggesting right now it’s pretty tight,” UCF political science professor Aubrey Jewett said.

The latest poll from the left-leaning Change Research gives Jolly the edge, 46% to Donalds’ 40%.

According to the newest survey from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab, Donalds leads the likely November matchup 46% to 41%.

President Trump’s declining approval rating is a factor in making the race for governor competitive, Jewett said.

“Many Floridians are concerned about affordability,” Jewett said, “and President Trump said that he was going to do something about affordability when he was elected president a couple of years ago, and so far, it hasn’t happened.”

Donalds entered the race with an endorsement from President Trump. He’s also hit the campaign trail with Republican Senator Ashley Moody.

While he’s avoided debating other GOP hopefuls like Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, businessman James Fishback and former House Speaker Paul Renner, Donalds recently told WESH 2 he’d commit to a debate against Jolly.

“Oh, we’re going to do that,” Donalds said. “But stay tuned. We got some more information coming.”

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During a campaign stop in Orlando on Saturday, Jolly criticized Donalds for receiving millions of dollars in campaign contributions from special interest groups.

“Byron’s going to fight for the data centers. Byron’s going to fight for the for-profit schools. Byron’s going to fight for the utilities, for the gambling interests of the state’s and for the insurance companies that keep jacking up rates on us,” Jolly told supporters. “Gwen Graham and I are going to fight for everybody in this room and everybody across the state of Florida.”

The Friends of Byron Donalds political committee has been running an ad called “Jacked Up” on the issue of AI data centers promising to protect Florida ratepayers from higher utility bills.

“I stand with President Trump and Governor DeSantis to protect Florida families and communities from data centers,” Donalds says in the ad.

This is just one of several spots that’s part of a $20 million statewide TV and digital ad blitz for the Donalds campaign.

“The good news for (Donalds) is he’s raised a ton of money,” Jewett said. “The bad news for him is he’s raised a ton of money, and he’s already been spending a ton of money, but the race is still pretty close.”

Monday was the deadline for Floridians to register to vote in the primary election on Aug. 18.