By The poll also found Haridopolos posting a plus-10 favorability rating.
New polling shows U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos holding a 9-point lead over Democratic challenger Jennifer Jenkins, with the Republican incumbent’s advantage widening substantially after voters receive additional information about both candidates.
The survey, conducted July 27-29 by Republican polling firm Inquire LLC, found Haridopolos leading Jenkins 51% to 42% among likely voters in Florida’s 8th Congressional District, while 7% remained undecided.
After respondents were presented with additional information about the candidates, Haridopolos’ lead grew to 55%-37%, an 18-point advantage.
The poll also found Haridopolos posting a plus-10 favorability rating, with 33% of respondents viewing him favorably and 23% unfavorably. Jenkins registered a plus-8 image rating, though just 16% of voters viewed her favorably while 8% viewed her unfavorably, suggesting many voters remain unfamiliar with the Democratic candidate.
The broader political environment also favored Republicans. Respondents preferred a generic Republican congressional candidate over a Democrat by a 52%-42% margin. Gov. Ron DeSantis recorded a 56%-43% job approval rating, while President Donald Trump’s approval stood essentially even at 49% approve and 50% disapprove.
According to the pollster, the survey intentionally included an oversample of voters registered with no party affiliation.
Haridopolos also maintains a significant fundraising advantage over Jenkins, with roughly a 10-to-1 cash-on-hand edge entering the final months of the campaign. Federal campaign finance reports show Haridopolos has more than $1.18 million available, compared with about $132,000 for Jenkins.
The district, which includes all of Brevard County and portions of eastern Orange County, is considered safely Republican. Trump carried the district by more than 16 percentage points in 2024.
