ORLANDO, Fla. – As the countdown to Election Day begins, the race for the governorship in Florida is picking up steam. However, a surprising number of voters remain unaware of who is actually running for the state’s top position.
In a series of interviews conducted on the streets, residents were posed a straightforward question: “Who is running for governor?” They were also shown images of each candidate’s campaign headquarters to jog their memory.
The responses ranged from puzzled expressions to outright admission of ignorance. One participant hesitated, clearly at a loss, while others candidly admitted, “I don’t know.”
This widespread lack of awareness is particularly striking given the high stakes of the upcoming election, which is set to take place in less than nine months.
“The level of voter engagement is not as high as we would hope,” commented Sean Freeder, who heads the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida.
According to Freeder, this phenomenon is not uncommon, especially in state and local elections. Even voters who generally stay informed on political matters often lose track of candidates in these races.
“At the state level, especially the local level, even the most pretty knowledgeable voters tend to drop off quite a bit,” he explained.
That drop-off makes name recognition a powerful factor—particularly in primary races.
To test that theory, a small group of voters in Orlando was shown a list of gubernatorial candidates, mixed in with a few well-known political figures. The result: most quickly recognized former President Donald Trump, but struggled to identify those actually running for governor.
“That’s Trump,” one person said immediately.
Trump’s influence could play a key role in shaping the race. He has endorsed Congressman Byron Donalds, a move that polling suggests carries significant weight.
“When people are told that he has that endorsement, his lead shoots up to being insurmountable,” Freeder said.
According to a February poll from UNF, Donalds holds a lead that surpasses the combined support of his Republican competitors.
Still, while many voters may not know the candidates, they are clear on the issues they want addressed.
“Gas prices are high,” one voter said.“I wish my groceries would come down,” another added.“Probably homelessness or gas prices,” said a third.
As the campaign season continues, candidates will likely focus on increasing their visibility—while also addressing the everyday concerns top of mind for Floridians.
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