Quinnipiac poll shows Nelson and Gillum with leads

Note: These polls have fewer undecided voters than the FAU poll.

U.S. Senate

Q-Pac

FAU

Bill Nelson 52.0% 40.3%
Rick Scott 46.0% 42.1%
Undecided 2.0% 13.1%

Governor

Q-Pac

FAU

Ron DeSantis 46.0% 36.7%
Andrew Gillum 52.0% 41.4%
Undecided 2.0% 17.5%

 

 

Press release – Oct. 22, 2018:

Despite his exposure in the wake of Hurricane Michael, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican challenger in the U.S. Senate race, gains virtually no ground on Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, getting 46 percent of likely voters to Sen. Nelson’s 52 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

This compares to a 53 – 46 percent likely voter lead for Sen. Nelson in a September 25 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University Poll.

Today, women, black, Hispanic and independent voters are the main drivers of Nelson’s lead:

–Women back the Democrat 59 – 39 percent, as men back Scott 54 – 44 percent;
–White voters back Scott 53 – 44 percent. Nelson leads 94 – 3 percent among black voters and 59 – 39 percent among Hispanic voters;
–Nelson leads 93 – 6 percent among Democrats and 60 – 38 percent among independent voters. Republicans back Scott 89 – 9 percent.

Only 2 percent of Florida likely voters remain undecided and 4 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind in the next 15 days.

“The Florida race is one of a handful of contests around the country that will decide control of the U.S. Senate. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott have spent so many millions of dollars on television ads it is almost impossible to avoid seeing them,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

“At this point, Sen. Nelson’s six-point overall lead is built on his large margin among independent voters, 60 – 38 percent. If that margin holds up, the senator will be difficult to beat. Moreover, Sen. Nelson’s 20-point advantage among women is twice Gov. Scott’s 10-point edge among men.”

“Nelson is just better liked. Florida likely voters view him favorably by 10 percentage points, and see Gov. Scott unfavorably by five points,” Brown added.

Florida likely voters give Nelson a 51 – 41 percent favorability rating.

Scott gets a negative 45 – 50 percent favorability rating, virtually unchanged from his negative 46 – 51 percent rating September 25.

Florida likely voters give President Donald Trump a negative 46 – 51 percent job approval rating, compared to a negative 44 – 54 percent job approval rating September 25.

From October 17 – 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,161 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points, including the design effect.

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Press Release – Oct. 23, 2018:

With big leads among women, black, Hispanic and independent voters, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for Florida governor, has 52 percent of likely voters to 46 percent for former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Republican contender, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

This compares to a 54 – 45 percent likely voter lead for Mayor Gillum in a September 26 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll.

Today, there are wide racial, gender and partisan gaps:
White voters back DeSantis 54 – 44 percent. The Democrat leads 99 – 1 percent among black voters and 59 – 36 percent among Hispanic voters;
Women back Gillum 59 – 38 percent, as men back DeSantis 54 – 44 percent;
Gillum leads 96 – 4 percent among Democrats and 57 – 39 percent among independent voters. Republicans back DeSantis 89 – 8 percent.
Only 2 percent of Florida likely voters remain undecided and 4 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind in the next 14 days.

“Looking inside the numbers of the governor’s race between Mayor Andrew Gillum and former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, we see shining examples of the problems Republicans face this year, not just in Florida, but around the country,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

“The GOP has faced strong opposition from women and other anti-Trump voters. These defections have hurt GOP candidates around the country and made it difficult to attract the numbers of independent voters that are often major players in successful campaigns.

“Here in Florida that has translated into an 18-point Gillum lead among independent voters.”

“Even more problematic for the GOP and telling about Mayor Gillum’s candidacy, is that a liberal Democrat is on the plus side of a 50 – 47 percent split among white women,” Brown added.

Gillum has a 50 – 38 percent favorability rating among Florida likely voters, compared to 55 – 31 percent September 26.

DeSantis gets a split 43 – 43 percent favorability rating, compared to a slightly negative 42 – 47 percent favorability rating September 26.

From October 17 – 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,161 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points, including the design effect.