JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) poll found that likely voters believe housing costs and property taxes are the most important problems facing Florida.
The UNF PORL Florida Statewide Poll consists of a random sample of 728 likely voters and was conducted from Oct. 15 through Oct. 25 at UNF.
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The poll asked likely voters about their possible choices for governor, U.S. senator for Florida and state attorney, as well as a number of policy issues affecting the state, and what they believe is the most important problem facing Florida.
Here’s a breakdown of the poll’s findings:
Housing costs, property taxes
According to the poll, 14% of respondents said they believed housing costs are the most important problem facing Florida today, making it the top response.
That was followed by property insurance (12%) and property taxes (11%). The economy and jobs were also high on the list, with 11%, as were political division and polarization, with 10%.
“Concerns over housing and all of its associated costs, namely property taxes and insurance, have really come to the forefront over the past few years,” said Dr. Michael Binder, UNF PORL faculty director and professor of political science. “And that’s across party lines. It seems like one thing Florida voters can all agree on is that the rent—or mortgage—is too damn high.”
Respondents were informed that local governments in Florida receive about $40 billion in revenue from property taxes annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Local Government Finances (ALFIN).
Then they were asked whether they support or oppose eliminating property taxes for homeowners in Florida. And the answers were divided, with 49% saying they either strongly or somewhat support and 43% opposed.
“Interestingly, support for getting rid of property taxes are roughly the same between homeowners and renters,” Binder stated. “I guess renters understand that extra expense tends to trickle down, and with housing costs at the very top of the list of Florida problems, everyone is feeling it.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a top priority of asking voters in the 2026 elections to slash property taxes for homeowners. Just last week, he dismissed a series of proposed constitutional amendments released by the Florida House to cut property taxes, calling the proposed measures a “political game.”
DeSantis has argued that homes should function the same as other purchases, with a tax at the point of sale and no continued payments to the government after.
“You should own your property free and clear,” DeSantis said in May. “I think to say that someone that’s been in their house for 35 years has to keep owing the government money, you know...you don’t own your home, if that’s the case.”
Candidate support in upcoming races
Voters in the 2026 midterm election were also asked to choose between one Democrat and one Republican candidate for governor in a series of head-to-head matchups.
Based on prior polling numbers, Republican candidates include Casey DeSantis and Byron Donalds, with David Jolly and Jerry Demings for the Democrats.
With 47% of the vote in both cases, Casey DeSantis came in 13 points ahead of Jolly (34%), and 11 points ahead of Demings (36%). The Donalds’ matchups had a nearly identical spread, his 45% putting him 11 percentage points over Jolly (34%), and 12 points over Demings (34%).
“We’re still a year away from the midterm election, and there are quite a few undecided voters,” Binder said. “At this point, it looks like both Republicans are more than 10 points ahead of whoever emerges on the Democratic side.”
However, Casey DeSantis has not openly stated she is running for governor, and Gov. DeSantis has recently hinted at possibly endorsing Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, although he also has not announced he’ll be in the running.
Regarding the race for U.S. senator from Florida, 49% said they would support Republican incumbent Ashley Moody if the election were held today, with 38% supporting Democrat Jennifer Jenkins. Ten percent said they don’t know who they’ll vote for.
When asked who they would vote for if the election for Attorney General were held today, 45% of respondents said Republican incumbent James Uthmeier, with 36% indicating a vote for Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez, and 14% undecided.
Policy issues
Respondents were also asked their opinion on several policy issues, including immigration, vaccine mandates, and the death penalty.
Immigration
When asked how they think Donald Trump is handling immigration in the United States, 54% of respondents said they approve, either strongly or somewhat, with 44% indicating disapproval.
Regionally, approval is highest among respondents in North Florida and rural areas, and lowest in South Florida and urban areas.
Vaccine mandates
Respondents were also asked if they support or oppose the state of Florida removing all childhood vaccination mandates.
Nearly two-thirds of Floridians oppose, either strongly or somewhat, the proposed policy change.
RELATED: Majority of likely voters in Florida want to keep childhood vaccine mandates, UNF poll finds
About half of all respondents (48%) said they oppose it strongly, with another 14% opposing somewhat. About a third of the sample supports removing vaccine mandates, either strongly (20%) or somewhat (14%).
“Florida’s surgeon general is following RFK Jr.’s lead in the fight against vaccines, but it doesn’t appear there’s much support among Florida voters,” Binder said.
Death penalty
Respondents were told that, for criminal convictions that result in the death penalty, under certain circumstances, a new Florida statute allows any method of execution that has not been deemed unconstitutional.
They were then asked what method of execution should be the default for Florida.
The top response for the default method of execution was lethal injection, with 55%, followed distantly by firing squad (6%) and electrocution (6%).
“This bill slipped under a lot of people’s radar, quietly taking effect this summer,” Binder said. “Now keep in mind, no method of execution has ever been deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, so this leaves the door open to other methods, including firing squad, beheading, and yes, even stoning.”