Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ job approval rating has slipped to 50%, “down from the 53% … he posted last March,” according to the latest Mason-Dixon poll released Jan. 14.

But even the pollster admits that isn’t too shabby.

“Overall, a 50% approval rating is not bad – it is simply somewhat lower than what he has enjoyed throughout his tenure,” said Brad Coker, CEO and managing director of Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy in Jacksonville.

The latest rating is down from a high of 62% in March 2019, the poll shows. DeSantis was first sworn in as governor on Jan. 8, 2019.

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And the poll’s summary explains there are “notable drops among several voter groups”:

“Among voters with no party affiliation, (DeSantis’) approval rating has dropped by 10 points from 51% to 41%,” the summary says.

“Among Hispanic voters his approval rating has declined from 57% to 49% and among Black voters it has slipped from 16% to 7%.”

“Among voters 50 and older, his approval rating is down 4 points from 56% to 52%.”

“He is also now ‘under water’ with women, with 49% disapproving and only 45% approving.”

Coker suggests several explanations, citing “national trends against Republicans in general and natural voter fatigue with governors nearing the end of their second term in office (very common).”

He added: “Additionally, his positions on issues that are not as popular as some of his early initiatives could be contributing to his rating decline.”

This poll was conducted Jan. 8–12, with a total of 625 registered voters statewide interviewed by phone, according to the summary. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.

DeSantis has historically downplayed opinion polls

The governor, however, has notably disdained public opinion polls, once saying that when he “became governor, I’m like, you know what, I’m not doing polling.”

“I’m not going to be one of these politicians that just has the finger in the wind, that’s so worried about kind of this or that,” he said in June 2022 at the Florida American Legion Boys State program, according to Breitbart. “You got to do what’s right.

“… And you know, responding to polls is being a follower. That’s not being a leader. A leader will set out a vision, will execute on that vision. And then when the results are positive, you know what? People will be with you when you do that.”

DeSantis ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for president in 2024 and is term-limited as governor, set to leave office in January 2027.

But “with no immediate announced political plans, DeSantis’ popularity drop probably has no immediate impact,” Coker said.

If you can’t view the polling document above, click here.

Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis job approval rating slips in latest Florida poll