Florida voters headed for major split on abortion and Trump: Poll

Florida voters are seemingly very supportive of an abortion rights amendment while also heavily favoring former President Donald Trump. 

A new poll from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab shows 69% of those polled said they would vote yes on Florida’s “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” and 23% of those polled saying they would not support the amendment.

While Democrats in the state look to the abortion measure to shore up support for their party, Trump is continuing to poll far ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumed Democratic nominee.

Trump garnered 49% of the support from respondents, while 42% indicated they would vote for Harris. Four percent preferred another candidate, and 6% were undecided or refused to answer. 

“It’s not a huge surprise to see Trump ahead in his home state of Florida, which he won by 3 points in 2020,” UNF PORL faculty director and professor of political science Michael Binder said. “With Harris just entering the race, enthusiasm amongst her supporters has livened up what was once thought to be an easy win for Trump in Florida.”

Those polled were also asked about the Senate election in November between Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Scott received less support than Trump, getting 47% of the support, as compared to Mucarsel-Powell’s 43%.

“What’s really interesting is that Trump has a couple of points bigger lead than Rick Scott, who’s only up by 4 — just inside the margin of error of this poll,” Binder said. “Scott has a history of winning razor-thin statewide races in Florida, and in a state that has become significantly redder in the past 6 years, this could be another close race for Scott.”