In a recent survey from Suffolk University, Vice President Harris is making visible strides against former President Trump in his home state of Florida. According to the USA Today/Suffolk University/WSVN-TV poll, Harris trails Trump by just 5 points among likely voters, with Trump at 47 percent and Harris at 42 percent, a margin close to the poll’s error range.
Despite Florida’s political landscape favoring Republicans, with Trump having won the state in 2016 and 2020, the poll reveals surprising closeness. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, expressed astonishment at Harris’s strong position, given the state’s Republican registration advantage.
Harris gains momentum in Florida, with recent poll showing her trailing Trump by only 5 points in a traditionally Republican state
The poll also shows Harris leading Trump among Florida independents, capturing 41 percent support compared to Trump’s 34 percent. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 10 percent of the vote.
Paleologos highlighted that Harris’s appeal to independents, particularly women, could potentially shift Florida into a more competitive battleground state. Additionally, the presence of an abortion rights measure on the statewide ballot may drive higher turnout among women voters.
Since entering the race last month, Harris has gained momentum, with recent polling from The New York Times/Siena College showing her leading Trump by 4 points in key swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
National polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ also reflect Harris ahead of Trump by an average of 1.4 points. The USA Today/Suffolk University/WSVN-TV poll, conducted from August 7 to 11, surveyed 500 likely Florida voters, with a margin of error of ±4.5 percentage points.
