TAMPA, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis' first two months in office can be called a success based on a new Quinnipiac University poll released Wedneday morning.
Florida voters overwhelmingly approve 59 to 17 percent of the job DeSantis is doing. The number is the highest approval rating any Florida governor received in ten years.
"Ron DeSantis won the governorship by the slimmest of margins, yet in his first two-plus months in office he has gotten off to a strong start," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Part of Gov. DeSantis' success is his taking on issues such as the environment on which Republicans often don't focus."
Brown added that DeSantis' approval rating is better than most governors across the country are receiving.
The governor is even getting accolates from voters who cast ballots for his opponent last November. The poll found Democrats approve of DeSantis by a margin of 42 to 28 percent.
"DeSantis and the state's politicians are benefitting from an overall sunny mood among Floridians who are happy about the economy and life in general," said Brown.
Over two-thirds of Florida voters (67%) say they are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are currently going in the state. That number ties the highest satisfication rate since Quinnipiac University first asked voters the question in 2004.
An even higher percentage of Floridians agree the state's economy is strong.
Seventy-one percent believe the economy is "excellent" or "good." Just 27 percent said the economy is "not so good" or "poor."
The poll found over 7 in 10 Florida voters are concerned about climate change. Surprisingly, less than half believe it will negatively effect Florida in their lifetime.
What to do about immigration laws continues to be a hot topic across the country.
A supermajority of Florida voters (61%) support the governor's proposal to require local law enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration authorities.
Support comes from white voters (68%), black voters (51%) and Hispanic voters (48%). Democrats are the only group where more voters oppose the governor's proposal.
However, 57 percent of all voters do support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
The approval ratings Florida's two U.S. senators are not as high as the governor's.
Fifty percent of voters approve of the job Marco Rubio is doing. Rick Scott is receiving a positive approval by the slim margin of 42 to 38 percent.
Quinnipiac University conducted the poll from March 6-11 by surveying 1,058 Florida voters. The margin or error is +/- 3.7 percentage points.
To see the full poll results, click here.
