New Poll Shows Matt Gaetz With Huge Support in Florida for the 2026 Gubernatorial Race
Staunch Trump supporter Matt Gaetz was just found in a recent poll to have the majority of support for the 2026 gubernatorial race in Florida.
The poll, released by Kaplan Strategies, showed Gaetz leading the pack of potential candidates two years out by 16%.
Gaetz Takes Early Lead in the 2026 Florida Republican Gubernatorial Primary followed by Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 2, 2024
The race still isn’t for quite some time, but the poll is intriguing nonetheless.
Since being elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, Gaetz has been a vocal supporter of President Trump at every opportunity.
It could also be said he spearheaded the effort to oust former speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Seeing what he could do as a governor of Florida would be interesting.
Reactions to the news of the poll have been mostly supportive of a Gaetz gubernatorial run in 2026.
I can dig it! pic.twitter.com/3NJ3dLUp8i
— Kenzie Marie 🇺🇸 (@Patriot_Kenzie) March 2, 2024
— Danny Mayday (@danny_mayday) March 2, 2024
Gaetz is a solid Conservative! I think he would make an excellent Governor!!
— Fred Garvin (@goforthefun) March 3, 2024
Gaetz has yet to show any interest in running for governor of the Sunshine State.
Could this recent social media post by Gaetz be an indication he saw the poll, and a gubernatorial run is possibly on the table for 2026?
My BELOVED FLORIDA is 179 years old today!
Like many, I long for the days when I never have to leave the Sunshine State again.
Until then, our work to Save America continues.
Stay wonderful, my fellow Florida Woman & Florida Man.
I’ll be home soon ☀️ pic.twitter.com/UYNRPBOfYV
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 3, 2024
More on the recent poll by Red State:
Following Gaetz in the top three were Rep. Byron Donalds at 13 percent, and state Attorney General Ashley Moody at 10 percent, Kaplan said. The poll, conducted Feb. 27 through Feb. 28, carries a 2.9 percentage point margin of error.
“Fifty-one percent of Republican voters are undecided, so the race is still wide open, he said.
“Gaetz enjoyed the highest percentage of support from male and female Republicans, and he was the top candidate with every age group, except Donalds, who was the top candidate with respondents 65 and older,” he said.
The other candidates in the poll were: Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, 3 percent; Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, 2 percent; Rep. Michael Waltz, 2 percent; former GOP presidential candidate and Miami Mayor Francisco Suarez, 2 percent, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, 1 percent.
Gaetz was first elected to Congress in 2016, but his impact on Florida and Capitol Hill since then has been staggering.
The son of former state Senate president Don Gaetz was pivotal in President Donald J. Trump’s decision to endorse his House colleague, then-Rep. Ron DeSantis in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary–and Trump’s decision to keep campaigning for him through the general election. Then, in 2023, no one did more to usher in former Speaker Kevin O. McCarthy (R.-Calif.)’s return to private life than Gaetz.
What do you think?
Would Matt Gaetz be a good choice for governor of Florida?
