2022 Florida gubernatorial election

2022 Florida gubernatorial election

The 2022 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Florida, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won re-election in a landslide, defeating the Democratic Party nominee, Charlie Crist, who served as governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011 as a Republican and later as an independent. No Democrat has been elected governor of Florida since (/wiki/1994Floridagubernatorialelection).

With 59.4 percent of the vote, DeSantis won the largest margin of victory in a Florida gubernatorial election since (/wiki/1982Floridagubernatorialelection). Significantly, DeSantis won Miami-Dade County, which had been considered a Democratic stronghold and had last voted Republican in (/wiki/2002Floridagubernatorialelection), and Palm Beach County, which had not voted Republican since (/wiki/1986Floridagubernatorialelection). Crist conceded the election shortly after DeSantis was projected as the winner. DeSantis won 8 counties he lost in (/wiki/2018Floridagubernatorialelection).

According to exit polls, DeSantis won 65% of White voters, 13% of Black voters, and 58% of Latinos; of the latter group, DeSantis won 69% of Cubans and 56% of Puerto Ricans. DeSantis also won a majority of Latina women in Florida.

DeSantis's large margin of victory was in part due to him flipping Democratic stronghold Miami-Dade County for the first time since (/wiki/2002Floridagubernatorialelection), and Palm Beach County for the first time since (/wiki/1986Floridagubernatorialelection), as well as winning Hillsborough, Osceola, Pinellas, and St. Lucie counties for the first time since (/wiki/2006Floridagubernatorialelection). This was also the first gubernatorial election since 2006 in which a candidate received over 50% of the vote. His 19.4% margin of victory was the largest since (/wiki/1982Floridagubernatorialelection) and the largest for a Republican in state history, compared to 0.4% four years earlier. It was also the first time the governorship was won by double digits since 2002, and the first time it was won by over a million votes.

Significantly, Crist's 39.97% performance was the worst for a Democratic nominee for governor of Florida since (/wiki/1916Floridagubernatorialelection), a three candidate race. Republicans won all other statewide races by double digits; this is the first time since the end of Reconstruction that Democrats do not hold at least one of the statewide positions. DeSantis also made large gains among Hispanic voters, becoming the first Florida Republican in decades to win a majority of those voters. He also had a major fundraising advantage over Crist, setting an all-time record for a gubernatorial candidate.

Some analysts believe that this election marked the transition of Florida from being a swing state into a red state. Donald Trump would win Florida in 2024 by 13 percentage points, far exceeding his two prior performances in the state.

Background

2022 Florida gubernatorial election

To qualify for the ballot in Florida, partisan candidates must first file with the Division of Elections of the Florida Department of State. After filing, a candidate must then qualify for the ballot by a deadline by either paying qualifying fees totaling 6% of the salary of the position sought, or obtaining sufficiently many signatures. Not all candidates who filed to run for governor subsequently qualified to appear on the ballot.

Republican primary

Nominee

• Ron DeSantis, incumbent governor (2019-present)

Failed to qualify

• John Joseph Mercadante, Republican National Committee official and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Floridagubernatorialelection) • Donald J. Peterson, marijuana activist

Declined

• Roger Stone, political consultant

Democratic primary

2022 Florida gubernatorial election

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried finished second in the primary.

Nominee

• Charlie Crist, U.S. representative, former Republican governor of Florida and former attorney general of Florida

Eliminated in primary

• Nikki Fried, Florida commissioner of agriculture • Cadance Daniel, consultant • Robert Lee Willis, teacher and Baptist minister

Failed to qualify

• Robert Conner • Ivan Graham, dentist • Carlos Enrique Gutierrez, property manager and candidate for mayor of Miami Beach in 2021 • Jonathan Karns, businessman • Alex Lundmark, real estate agent and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Floridagubernatorialelection) • Christine Powers • Randy Zapata, legal advocate

Withdrawn

• Richard Dembinsky, engineer and candidate for state senate in 2016 • David Nelson Freeman, businessman • Timothy Mosley, charity founder • Annette Taddeo, state senator and nominee for lieutenant governor in (/wiki/2014Floridagubernatorialelection) (running for Florida's 27th congressional district) (endorsed Crist)

Declined

• Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County state attorney and former state senator • Lauren Book, state senator • Randolph Bracy, state senator (running for Florida's 10th congressional district) • Val Demings, U.S. representative (running for U.S. Senate) • Anna Eskamani, state representative • Dan Gelber, mayor of Miami Beach and former state house minority leader (endorsed Crist) • Andrew Gillum, former mayor of Tallahassee and nominee for governor in (/wiki/2018Floridagubernatorialelection) • Rebekah Jones, former Florida Department of Health analyst (endorsed Fried) • Al Lawson, U.S. representative (endorsed Crist) • Stephanie Murphy, U.S. representative • Jason Pizzo, state senator • Sean Shaw, state representative and nominee for attorney general in (/wiki/2018FloridaAttorneyGeneralelection) (endorsed Crist)

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Charlie Crist	Nikki Fried	Other	Margin
Real Clear Politics	February 7 – June 17, 2022	June 20, 2022	40.0%	23.3%	36.7%	Crist +16.7

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Charlie Crist</th><th>Nikki Fried</th><th>Annette Taddeo</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>August 20–21, 2022</td><td>1,617 (LV)</td><td>± 2.4%</td><td>59%</td><td>30%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>Change Research (D)</td><td>August 12–14, 2022</td><td>702 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>47%</td><td>37%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>University of North Florida</td><td>August 8–12, 2022</td><td>529 (LV)</td><td>± 6.0%</td><td>43%</td><td>47%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>August 8–9, 2022</td><td>664 (LV)</td><td>± 3.8%</td><td>42%</td><td>35%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>August 2–3, 2022</td><td>1,361 (LV)</td><td>± 2.7%</td><td>56%</td><td>24%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>20%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>July 27–31, 2022</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>52%</td><td>36%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>Kaplan Strategies</td><td>July 6, 2022</td><td>671 (LV)</td><td>± 3.8%</td><td>39%</td><td>39%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td></tr><tr><td>GBAO (D)</td><td>June 23–26, 2022</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>55%</td><td>34%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>June 16–17, 2022</td><td>1,007 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>49%</td><td>24%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Global Strategy Group (D)</td><td>June 8–13, 2022</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>38%</td><td>34%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>29%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>June 6, 2022</td><td colspan="99">Taddeo withdraws from the race</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>May 2–3, 2022</td><td>1,859 (LV)</td><td>± 2.3%</td><td>52%</td><td>19%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>24%</td></tr><tr><td>Sachs Media Group</td><td>April 8–10, 2022</td><td>700 (RV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>35%</td><td>20%</td><td>4%</td><td>–</td><td>41%</td></tr><tr><td>University of North Florida</td><td>February 7–20, 2022</td><td>271 (RV)</td><td>± 6.0%</td><td>27%</td><td>19%</td><td>4%</td><td>8%</td><td>44%</td></tr><tr><td>Mason-Dixon</td><td>February 7–10, 2022</td><td>400 (LV)</td><td>± 5.0%</td><td>44%</td><td>27%</td><td>3%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Alvarado Strategies (R)</td><td>February 2022</td><td>1,007 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>36%</td><td>25%</td><td>6%</td><td>10%</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">GBAO (D)</td><td rowspan="2">January 26–31, 2022</td><td rowspan="2">800 (LV)</td><td rowspan="2">± 3.5%</td><td>54%</td><td>28%</td><td>7%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>56%</td><td>33%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>January 26–27, 2022</td><td>582 (LV)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>36%</td><td>34%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>29%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Policy Polling (D)</td><td>August 10–11, 2021</td><td>274 (LV)</td><td>± 5.9%</td><td>33%</td><td>36%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>Susquehanna Polling & Research (R)</td><td>August 4–10, 2021</td><td>245 (RV)</td><td>± 6.3%</td><td>38%</td><td>27%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>Political Matrix (R)</td><td>June 9–11, 2021</td><td>660 (LV)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>41%</td><td>31%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>29%</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>May 24–26, 2021</td><td>2,752 (RV)</td><td>± 1.9%</td><td>55%</td><td>22%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>Victory Insights (R)</td><td>May 4, 2021</td><td>232 (RV)</td><td>± 7.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>30%</td><td>–</td><td>17%</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>SEA Polling (D)</td><td>April 15–20, 2021</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>28%</td><td>26%</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>34%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Results

<table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><th>Charlie Crist</th><td>904,524</td><td>59.71%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><th>Nicole "Nikki" Fried</th><td>535,480</td><td>35.35%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><th>Cadance Daniel</th><td>38,198</td><td>2.52%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><th>Robert L. Willis</th><td>36,786</td><td>2.43%</td></tr><tr><th colspan="3">Total votes</th><td>1,513,180</td><td>100.0%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Running mate selection

In June 2022, Politico released a shortlist of 18 people who Crist was considering as his running mate. On August 26, four days after Crist won the gubernatorial primary, CBS News reported that he had selected Karla Hernández-Mats, one of the people on the Politico shortlist.

Selected

• Karla Hernández-Mats, president of the United Teachers of Dade

On shortlist

• María Celeste Arrarás, journalist and former Telemundo news anchor • Manny Diaz, chair of the Florida Democratic Party and former mayor of Miami • Fentrice Driskell, state representative and minority leader-designate for the 2024–2026 legislative session • Anna Eskamani, state representative • Anne Gannon, Palm Beach County Tax Collector and former state representative • Dan Gelber, mayor of Miami Beach, former state senator, and nominee for Florida Attorney General in (/wiki/2010FloridaAttorneyGeneralelection) • Jennifer Jenkins, Brevard County school board member • Shevrin Jones, state senator • Al Lawson, U.S. representative for Florida's 5th congressional district • Amy Mercado, Orange County Property Appraiser and former state representative • Wayne Messam, mayor of Miramar and candidate for president in (/wiki/2020DemocraticPartypresidentialprimaries) • Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, former U.S. representative for Florida's 26th congressional district • Tina Polsky, state senator • Bobby Powell, state senator • Mary Ann Ruiz, attorney • Sean Shaw, former state representative and nominee for Florida Attorney General in (/wiki/2018FloridaAttorneyGeneralelection) • Marie Woodson, state representative

Independent and third-party candidates

Withdrawn

• Brian Moore, activist and perennial candidate (running for state senate)

Declined

• Roger Stone, political activist and consultant

Withdrawn

• Mark B. Graham, computer technician and candidate for president in (/wiki/2016UnitedStatespresidentialelection) • Frank Hughes Jr., education consultant • Jodi Gregory Jeloudov

Declined

• David Jolly, former U.S. representative

Declared

• Piotr Blass, perennial candidate • James Thompson, pastor

General election

Predictions

<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Likely R</td><td>July 22, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Likely R</td><td>July 22, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe R</td><td>October 31, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Politico</td><td>Likely R</td><td>April 1, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>RCP</td><td>Lean R</td><td>January 10, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Fox News</td><td>Likely R</td><td>May 12, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>538</td><td>Solid R</td><td>October 18, 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Elections Daily</td><td>Safe R</td><td>November 7, 2022</td></tr></tbody></table>

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Ron DeSantis (R)	Charlie Crist (D)	Other	Margin
Real Clear Politics	October 17 – November 6, 2022	November 8, 2022	54.4%	42.2%	3.4%	DeSantis +12.2
FiveThirtyEight	October 30, 2022 – November 7, 2022	November 8, 2022	54.5%	42.4%	3.0%	DeSantis +12.1
270 to win	November 4–7, 2022	November 8, 2022	54.0%	41.8%	4.2%	DeSantis +12.2
Average			54.3%	42.1%	3.6%	DeSantis +12.2

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Ron DeSantis (R)</th><th>Charlie Crist (D)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>November 6–7, 2022</td><td>722 (LV)</td><td>± 3.8%</td><td>52%</td><td>48%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Research Co.</td><td>November 4–6, 2022</td><td>450 (LV)</td><td>± 4.6%</td><td>54%</td><td>41%</td><td>2%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Data for Progress (D)</td><td>November 2–6, 2022</td><td>1,436 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>57%</td><td>42%</td><td>2%</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Amber Integrated (R)</td><td>November 1–2, 2022</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>40%</td><td>4%</td><td>4%</td></tr><tr><td>Civiqs</td><td>October 29 – November 2, 2022</td><td>772 (LV)</td><td>± 3.9%</td><td>54%</td><td>45%</td><td>1%</td><td>1%</td></tr><tr><td>InsiderAdvantage (R)</td><td>November 1, 2022</td><td>550 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>53%</td><td>43%</td><td>1%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Siena College</td><td>October 30 – November 1, 2022</td><td>659 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>54%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Victory Insights</td><td>October 30 – November 1, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>54%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Florida State University/YouGov</td><td>October 20–31, 2022</td><td>1,117 (RV)</td><td>–</td><td>53%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>October 27–28, 2022</td><td>633 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>47%</td><td>53%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>University of North Florida</td><td>October 17–24, 2022</td><td>622 (LV)</td><td>± 4.7%</td><td>55%</td><td>41%</td><td>2%</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Data for Progress (D)</td><td>October 19–23, 2022</td><td>1,251 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>54%</td><td>42%</td><td>1%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Cherry Communications (R)</td><td>October 13–23, 2022</td><td>601 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Stetson University</td><td>October 16–20, 2022</td><td>644 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Florida Atlantic University</td><td>October 12–16, 2022</td><td>719 (LV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>51%</td><td>40%</td><td>4%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>YouGov</td><td>October 11–16, 2022</td><td>832 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>43%</td><td>4%</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Sachs Media</td><td>October 15, 2022</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>52%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>RMG Research (R)</td><td>October 10–13, 2022</td><td>685 (LV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>52%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>African American Research Collaborative (D)</td><td>October 4–11, 2022</td><td>1,250 (RV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>46%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>13%</td></tr><tr><td>Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy</td><td>September 26–28, 2022</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>52%</td><td>41%</td><td>1%</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Clarity Campaign Labs (D)</td><td>September 22–27, 2022</td><td>2,860 (LV)</td><td>± 1.8%</td><td>47%</td><td>46%</td><td>–</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>September 21, 2022</td><td>700 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>47%</td><td>53%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Siena College</td><td>September 18–25, 2022</td><td>669 (LV)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>49%</td><td>41%</td><td>2%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Civiqs</td><td>September 17–20, 2022</td><td>617 (LV)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>52%</td><td>45%</td><td>1%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Suffolk University</td><td>September 15–18, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>48%</td><td>41%</td><td>5%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Sachs Media</td><td>September 10, 2022</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>51%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>4%</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Survey Monkey (D)</td><td rowspan="2">September 9–10, 2022</td><td>999 (RV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>49%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>563 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>50%</td><td>47%</td><td>–</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Echelon Insights</td><td>August 31 – September 7, 2022</td><td>815 (LV)</td><td>± 4.3%</td><td>52%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>InsiderAdvantage (R)</td><td>September 5–6, 2022</td><td>550 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>50%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Susquehanna Polling and Research (R)</td><td>August 29 – September 4, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.3%</td><td>47%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>10%</td></tr><tr><td>Neighborhood Research and Media</td><td>August 29 – September 2, 2022</td><td>362 (LV)</td><td>± 4.3%</td><td>50%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)</td><td>August 24–31, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>50%</td><td>47%</td><td>–</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Clarity Campaign Labs (D)</td><td>August 25–30, 2022</td><td>3,017 (LV)</td><td>± 1.8%</td><td>48%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Impact Research (D)</td><td>August 12–18, 2022</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>51%</td><td>46%</td><td>–</td><td>3%</td></tr><tr><td>Cherry Communications (R)</td><td>August 4–15, 2022</td><td>608 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>51%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>University of North Florida</td><td>August 8–12, 2022</td><td>1,624 (RV)</td><td>± 3.4%</td><td>50%</td><td>42%</td><td>6%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Clarity Campaign Labs (D)</td><td>July 26–31, 2022</td><td>2,244 (LV)</td><td>± 2.1%</td><td>47%</td><td>44%</td><td>–</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>May 27 – June 4, 2022</td><td>714 (LV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>49%</td><td>51%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)</td><td>Mid-May 2022</td><td>1,200 (RV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>47%</td><td>48%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>Phillips Academy</td><td>May 7–9, 2022</td><td>543 (RV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>36%</td><td>35%</td><td>–</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Leo University</td><td>February 28 – March 12, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>49%</td><td>33%</td><td>–</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>February 23, 2022</td><td>1,064 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>44%</td><td>56%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>University of North Florida</td><td>February 7–20, 2022</td><td>685 (RV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>55%</td><td>34%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>Mason-Dixon</td><td>February 7–10, 2022</td><td>625 (RV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>51%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Suffolk University</td><td>January 26–29, 2022</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>49%</td><td>43%</td><td>0%</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>November 18–19, 2021</td><td>2,896 (LV)</td><td>± 1.8%</td><td>51%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Redfield & Wilton Strategies</td><td rowspan="2">November 9, 2021</td><td>867 (RV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>44%</td><td>37%</td><td>5%</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>842 (LV)</td><td>± 3.4%</td><td>46%</td><td>40%</td><td>4%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Leo University</td><td>October 17–23, 2021</td><td>500 (A)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>47%</td><td>35%</td><td>–</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>VCreek/AMG (R)</td><td>September 23–27, 2021</td><td>405 (LV)</td><td>± 4.9%</td><td>47%</td><td>39%</td><td>2%</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>September 11–12, 2021</td><td>1,144 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>55%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>September 3–5, 2021</td><td>1,144 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>55%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>RMG Research</td><td>August 21–28, 2021</td><td>1,000 (RV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>38%</td><td>–</td><td>17%</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Redfield & Wilton Strategies</td><td rowspan="2">August 20–24, 2021</td><td>1,000 (RV)</td><td rowspan="2">± 3.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>36%</td><td>5%</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>977 (LV)</td><td>48%</td><td>38%</td><td>5%</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>August 14–18, 2021</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>43%</td><td>57%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Change Research (D)</td><td>August 14–17, 2021</td><td>1,585 (LV)</td><td>± 2.5%</td><td>49%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Susquehanna Polling & Research (R)</td><td>August 4–10, 2021</td><td>700 (RV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>46%</td><td>43%</td><td>3%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Cherry Communications (R)</td><td>July 26 – August 4, 2021</td><td>610 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>51%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>St. Pete Polls</td><td>August 2–3, 2021</td><td>3,952 (LV)</td><td>± 1.6%</td><td>44%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>The Political Matrix/The Listener Group (R)</td><td>June 21, 2021</td><td>716 (LV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>55%</td><td>45%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Cherry Communications (R)</td><td>April 30 – May 8, 2021</td><td>602 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>51%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>Victory Insights (R)</td><td>May 4, 2021</td><td>600 (RV)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>53%</td><td>47%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Mason-Dixon</td><td>February 24–28, 2021</td><td>625 (RV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>52%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>7%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Results

State house district results

State Senate district results

<table><thead><tr><th colspan="2">Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th><th>±%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><th>Ron DeSantis (incumbent) Jeanette Nuñez (incumbent)</th><td>4,614,210</td><td>59.37%</td><td>+9.78%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><th>Charlie Crist Karla Hernandez</th><td>3,106,313</td><td>39.97%</td><td>−9.22%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><th>Carmen Jackie Gimenez Kyle "KC" Gibson</th><td>31,577</td><td>0.41%</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Libertarian</td><th>Hector Roos Jerry "Tub" Rorabaugh</th><td>19,299</td><td>0.25%</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><th colspan="3">Total votes</th><td>7,771,399</td><td>100.0%</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><th colspan="3">Turnout</th><td>7,796,916</td><td>53.76%</td><td></td></tr><tr><th colspan="3">Registered electors</th><td>14,503,978</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><th colspan="5">Republican hold</th></tr></tbody></table>

By congressional district

DeSantis won 22 of 28 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.

District	DeSantis	Crist	Representative
1st	73%	26%	Matt Gaetz
2nd	62%	38%	Neal Dunn
3rd	64%	35%	Kat Cammack
4th	60%	39%	Aaron Bean
5th	65%	34%	John Rutherford
6th	68%	31%	Mike Waltz
7th	60%	39%	Stephanie Murphy (117th Congress)
			Cory Mills (118th Congress)
8th	65%	35%	Bill Posey
9th	50%	49%	Darren Soto
10th	41%	58%	Val Demings (117th Congress)
			Maxwell Frost (118th Congress)
11th	63%	37%	Daniel Webster
12th	69%	30%	Gus Bilirakis
13th	58%	41%	Anna Paulina Luna
14th	47%	52%	Kathy Castor
15th	59%	40%	Laurel Lee
16th	61%	38%	Vern Buchanan
17th	64%	35%	Greg Steube
18th	69%	30%	Scott Franklin
19th	69%	30%	Byron Donalds
20th	30%	69%	Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
21st	62%	37%	Brian Mast
22nd	48%	51%	Lois Frankel
23rd	50%	49%	Jared Moskowitz
24th	31%	68%	Frederica Wilson
25th	47%	52%	Debbie Wasserman Schultz
26th	70%	29%	Mario Díaz-Balart
27th	58%	41%	María Elvira Salazar
28th	64%	36%	Carlos A. Giménez

Analysis

2022 Florida gubernatorial election

According to exit polls, DeSantis won 65% of White voters, 13% of Black voters, and 58% of Latinos; of the latter group, DeSantis won 69% of Cubans and 56% of Puerto Ricans. DeSantis' large margin of victory was in part due to him flipping Democratic stronghold Miami-Dade County for the first time since (/wiki/2002Floridagubernatorialelection), and Palm Beach County for the first time since (/wiki/1986Floridagubernatorialelection), as well as winning Hillsborough, Osceola, Pinellas, and St. Lucie counties for the first time since (/wiki/2006Floridagubernatorialelection); this was also the first gubernatorial election since 2006 in which a candidate received over 50% of the vote. His near 20% margin of victory was the largest since (/wiki/1982Floridagubernatorialelection) and the largest for a Republican in state history. It was also the first time the governorship was won by double digits since 2002, and the first time it was won by over one million votes.

Significantly, Crist's 40% performance was the worst for a Democratic nominee for governor of Florida since (/wiki/1916Floridagubernatorialelection). Republicans won the other statewide races by double digits; this is the first time since the end of Reconstruction that Democrats do not hold at least one of the statewide positions. DeSantis also made large gains among Hispanic voters, becoming the first Republican in decades to win a majority of those voters. He also had a major fundraising advantage over Crist, setting an all-time record for a gubernatorial candidate.

Voter demographics

<table><thead><tr><th>Demographic subgroup</th><th>Crist</th><th>DeSantis</th><th>% of voters</th></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Gender</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Men</td><td>35</td><td>64</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Women</td><td>46</td><td>53</td><td>51</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Age</th></tr><tr><td>18–24 years old</td><td>54</td><td>44</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>25–29 years old</td><td>56</td><td>41</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>30–39 years old</td><td>52</td><td>47</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>40–49 years old</td><td>38</td><td>60</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>50–64 years old</td><td>36</td><td>63</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>65 and older</td><td>36</td><td>64</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Race</th></tr><tr><td>White</td><td>34</td><td>65</td><td>64</td></tr><tr><td>Black</td><td>86</td><td>13</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Latino</td><td>40</td><td>58</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Race by gender</th></tr><tr><td>White men</td><td>27</td><td>72</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>White women</td><td>40</td><td>58</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Black men</td><td>81</td><td>19</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Black women</td><td>91</td><td>9</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Latino men</td><td>41</td><td>57</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Latina women</td><td>39</td><td>60</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Education</th></tr><tr><td>High school or less</td><td>33</td><td>67</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Some college education</td><td>41</td><td>58</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>Associate degree</td><td>40</td><td>59</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Bachelor's degree</td><td>43</td><td>56</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Advanced degree</td><td>44</td><td>55</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Party ID</th></tr><tr><td>Democrats</td><td>95</td><td>5</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>Republicans</td><td>2</td><td>97</td><td>42</td></tr><tr><td>Independents</td><td>45</td><td>53</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Ideology</th></tr><tr><td>Liberals</td><td>90</td><td>10</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Moderates</td><td>53</td><td>45</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Conservatives</td><td>6</td><td>94</td><td>42</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Marital status</th></tr><tr><td>Married</td><td>38</td><td>62</td><td>59</td></tr><tr><td>Unmarried</td><td>50</td><td>50</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Gender by marital status</th></tr><tr><td>Married men</td><td>32</td><td>68</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Married women</td><td>44</td><td>55</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td>Unmarried men</td><td>49</td><td>51</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Unmarried women</td><td>50</td><td>49</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">First-time midterm election voter</th></tr><tr><td>Yes</td><td>41</td><td>59</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>No</td><td>43</td><td>57</td><td>89</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Most important issue facing the country</th></tr><tr><td>Crime</td><td>35</td><td>63</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Inflation</td><td>26</td><td>74</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Gun policy</td><td>62</td><td>36</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Immigration</td><td>12</td><td>88</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Abortion</td><td>80</td><td>19</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Area type</th></tr><tr><td>Urban</td><td>43</td><td>56</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>Suburban</td><td>40</td><td>58</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Rural</td><td>30</td><td>70</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td colspan="5">Source: CNN</td></tr></tbody></table>