According to a new political poll conducted by Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research, 38% of polled Republican voters in Florida expressed a preference for First Lady Casey DeSantis as the next governor of the state, compared to 16% who favored U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida.
Casey DeSantis and Gaetz have not declared their intention to run for governor in the 2026 election. Ron DeSantis’ tenure formally concludes in January 2027.
According to the poll, 26% of GOP voters polled expressed uncertainty regarding their choice in a hypothetical DeSantis/Gaetz showdown, stating that they “don’t know” who they would vote for.
Additionally, 20% of the respondents indicated their preference for an alternative candidate.
Casey DeSantis, having completed her chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer in 2022, has placed significant emphasis on mental health as her foremost concern in her role as first lady.
Gaetz, a congressman from Pensacola and a close associate of former President Donald Trump, has being considered as a potential replacement for Ron DeSantis.
The FAU/Mainstreet Research poll was administered from April 15 to 17 and gathered data from 865 adult respondents in Florida. The margin of error is ±3.3%.
[READ MORE: DeSantis Signs New Bill Which Limits Objections to Books In School Libraries From Those Without Kids]
