DeSantis Leads Crist Among Older Voters In AARP Poll

Florida Phoenix

FLORIDA — GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis leads Democrat Charlie Crist by three points in an AARP-sponsored survey released Wednesday that’s weighted toward older voters, but the difference is within the poll’s margin for error.

Overall, the 1,626 likely Florida voters surveyed went 50 percent for DeSantis and 47 percent for Crist, a congressman representing the Pinellas County area. The governor’s lead was 7 percent among voters aged 50 and up.

The margin for error overall was 4.4 percent and for older voters was 3.3 percent.

The organization noted that the above-50 population produced 62 percent of the total turnout during the 2018 midterm elections.

“Florida voters 50 and older are a critical voting demographic that all candidates are competing for in this midterm election,” AARP Florida state director Jeff Johnson said in a written statement.

“With the price of necessities like groceries, housing, and health care so high, Florida residents want their leaders to provide solutions to inflation and the rising cost of living. The message is clear: If candidates want to win, they should pay attention to the issues that matter to Floridians 50-plus.”

Among the 50+ population, the survey found:

Seventy-six percent of voters overall said the country is headed in the wrong direction and 51 percent thought that was true for the state.

Sixty-three percent were worried about their financial situation while 44 percent said the economy is working well.

Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research interviewed 1,626 likely Florida voters between Aug. 24-31.

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