Republicans Maintain Grip on Florida Governor and Senate Races Despite Shifting Hispanic Support
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
A recent poll highlights the entrenched advantage of Republican Byron Donalds and Senator Ashley Moody, who hold significant leads over their Democratic challengers. However, the data also reveals cracks in the GOP's coalition, as Hispanic voters increasingly distance themselves from Trump and the party's hardline agenda.
A new NBC South Florida/Telemundo poll underscores the persistent dominance of Republicans in Florida’s political landscape, with Byron Donalds leading Democrat David Jolly by seven points in the governor’s race—Donalds at 48% and Jolly at 41%. In the Senate contest, Republican incumbent Ashley Moody maintains a ten-point lead over Democratic challenger Angie Nixon, polling at 50% to Nixon’s 40%—a testament to the GOP’s entrenched power, despite growing discontent.
Among Hispanic voters, Donalds holds a narrow 48%-43% advantage over Jolly, and Moody leads Nixon 47%-40%. Yet, the poll also reveals significant dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump: his job approval is split evenly among all Florida voters (48% approve, 48% disapprove), but a notable 49% of Hispanic respondents disapprove, signaling a potential shift away from the Republican Party’s reactionary politics.
The poll, which surveyed 625 likely voters and a separate sample of 400 Hispanic voters, found that inflation and the cost of living—issues exacerbated by corporate greed and regressive economic policies—are the top concerns for voters, followed by the direction of the state or country and the GOP’s relentless focus on immigration enforcement. For Hispanic respondents, property taxes ranked third, highlighting the economic pressures faced by working families.
"In legislative races in Florida, we have seen huge swings," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, referencing recent Democratic gains among Hispanic voters—a clear sign that the Republican stranglehold may be loosening as communities demand real change.
A proposed constitutional amendment to raise the property-tax exemption to $250,000 enjoys majority support, with 55% of all voters in favor, according to the poll—demonstrating widespread demand for relief from the burdens imposed by a system that too often favors the wealthy.