TOPLINE
Gov. Ron DeSantis (Florida) approval rating fell to its lowest level since he took office in 2019, according to a new Quinnipiac University survey, as the governor analyzes the management of the outbreak with increasing numbers of cases. in its state.
APOPKA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – 2020/07/17: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press … [+]
KEY FACTS
The Quinnipiac poll, conducted July 16-20 in a poll of 924 registered voters, found that 41% of Florida voters approve of the job DeSantis is doing, while 52% disapprove.
In another Quinnipiac survey conducted in April, DeSantis enjoyed a net positive approval rating of 52% -33%.
In late 2019 and early 2020, DeSantis was voting as one of the nation’s most popular governors.
Quinnipiac’s new poll found DeSantis to be red when it comes to his response to the coronavirus, with only 38% approval and 57% disapproval.
After initially being one of the few states to contain the spread of the virus on the east coast in the first months of the outbreak, cases have skyrocketed in the state.
On Thursday, Florida reported a new record number of single-day deaths from Covid-19,173, as well as 10,249 new cases.
Crucial quote
DeSantis has sometimes downplayed the extent of the outbreak in its state. Last month, a day after his state reported 15,000 new cases, the governor said the outbreak had “stabilized.” On Tuesday, DeSantis said Florida was “going in a good direction” just hours after the state posted its biggest one-day increase in coronavirus hospitalization.
Key background
DeSantis took a more direct approach to managing the pandemic in his state in the first weeks of the pandemic, leaving some decisions to local leaders and refusing to issue an order to stay home until April 1.
Surprising fact
DeSantis has come under fire for refusing to issue a mask mandate. Forbes‘reports that despite the governor’s refusal, a third of the counties in the state have issued a mask mandate.
Critical boss
As the DeSantis poll numbers drop, some Florida Democrats now feel that governance could be within reach in 2022, the Tampa Bay Times reports. “Eight months ago, DeSantis’s numbers were phenomenal and this would never have been a conversation,” Reggie Cardozo, a Democratic strategist in Florida, told the Times. “But it is now.”
Tangent
The same Quinnipiac poll found Biden leading Trump by 13 points in the state of the battlefield.
Further reading
Trump breaks up with DeSantis, says Florida is in a ‘difficult position’ as ICUs run out of spaceForbes)
Increase 13 points in Florida as Trump craters approval amid pandemicForbes)
