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Some of the names actively considering a run for governor have long been in circulation, having openly talked about it in person or on social media. They include Fried, the party’s only statewide elected official, who is often chided by the party’s left flank, and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a liberal Orlando Democrat who does some of that prodding.
But now other Democrats are being touted as potential challengers and several have said they are considering it: State Sen. Annette Taddeo; Republican-turned-Democrat, former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, and Rep. Val Demings — a manager of the House's first impeachment of Trump. Some supporters of Rep. Al Lawson, a moderate congressman from mostly rural north Florida, have lauded him as someone to watch as well. (Lawson, however, told POLITICO on Tuesday while he was “flattered” a run for governor “is not on my radar right now.”)
Still, no matter who emerges as Democrats' 2022 nominee, the candidate will run into a Florida GOP emboldened by 2020 victories, a well-oiled political infrastructure and a vocal former president parked in the state.
“To say they have a head start is a major understatement,” said former Rep. Gwen Graham, who mounted her own unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018 and has emerged as a caustic critic of DeSantis since he won.
Early in his term, DeSantis’ approval ratings approached the 70s as he pushed a slate of bipartisan policy priorities that included boosting funding for the environment and increasing pay for state teachers. Those numbers dropped after the start of the coronavirus pandemic as DeSantis’ rejected a mask mandate, emphasized a quick reopening of the state’s economy and embraced Trump’s response which earned the disdain of many state Democrats.
Still, his approval ratings remain just above water. Numbers shared with POLITICO by Republican pollster Ryan Tyson this week showed DeSantis with a 52 percent job approval rating in late January, with a 3.5-point margin of error. The figures from Tyson, who has nailed most statewide races in the past few cycles, including Trump and DeSantis wins in the state, track closely with a Florida Chamber of Commerce poll that had DeSantis' approval rating at 54 percent.