In a recent survey, only 21 percent of general, registered voters in Florida said they either strongly or somewhat approved of the job that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is doing in Congress. Gaetz is a potential candidate for governor to replace Ron DeSantis, the Republican currently in his second term at the helm of the state who is currently waging a… struggling… Republican presidential primary campaign.
It wasn’t simply that most Floridians didn’t have an opinion on Gaetz, who represents just one Congressional district in the state, though he cultivates a far-reaching profile for himself. Only 12 percent said they strongly approved of Gaetz’s performance, while nine percent said they somewhat approved. Meanwhile, a full 46 percent strongly disapproved, while an additional 11 percent said they somewhat disapproved — all of which leaves just eight percent indicating they neither approved nor disapproved. In other words, Gaetz does already have evidently extensive public recognition in Florida, and much of the state doesn’t like what they see!
The polling was the work of Mainstreet Research and Florida Atlantic University, and the survey work was completed November 11. Despite speculative reporting in the media, the Gaetzs — including the Congressman’s father, Don — have rebuffed the idea the northern Florida House member is eyeing a bid to replace DeSantis, though media denials haven’t stopped others from eventually moving forward.
Gaetz’s most recent moves in Congress include kickstarting the chaos around who would serve as House Speaker. He filed the motion that resulted in the removal from the position of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with conservative Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) seated as McCarthy’s replacement weeks later after extensive Congressional stalemate. The House then turned to approving a spending deal — which ended up being on a short-term basis and was propelled forward by Democratic votes, the kind of situation that Gaetz’s corner of the GOP opposed under McCarthy. Gaetz, meanwhile, also continues backing Trump’s attempt at regaining power.
