REPORT: Poll Shows Tightening Race Between Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist in Democrat Nomination for Governor

June 17, 2022 Updated 8:43 A.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The Nikki Fried campaign is gaining on Charlie Crist in the race for Florida’s Democratic nomination for Governor, according to a Fried internal poll.

The new round of polling is the first one since Democratic Primary since Annette Taddeo dropped out of the race. The Global Strategy Group surveyed 600 likely Democratic primary voters which showed Fried with 34% of the vote and 38% supporting Crist.

Fried’s number was reportedly higher when participants were given short ‘biographies’ about the two candidates. According to the Fried campaign, the polling showed Fried with a 17-point lead over Crist. 

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The Fried campaign’s internal poll is in stark contrast to the RealClearPolitics average that shows Crist with a 19-point lead over Fried. That poll was conducted when Taddeo was in the race. 

The feud between Fried and Crist has been steady throughout the campaign. Fried has called out Crist for missing gubernatorial forums and not debating. Fried posted a video of a member of the Black Caucus calling out Crist for not arriving at the forum that “he confirmed” he would attend. 

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Both candidates recently attended a Palm Beach County Democratic Party gubernatorial forum. Their messages center around beating Gov. Ron DeSantis, but fundraising does not compare to the Governor’s war chest. 

DeSantis raised $10.2 million in May for his reelection campaign and continues to significantly outpace his Democratic opponents in the race for Florida’s top seat. He has a total of $112 million on-hand cash in his war chest. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried raised about $300,000 for the month of May. Fried has $3.9 million on hand. 

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Democrat candidate and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist raised about $1 million for the month of May. Crist has $6.3 million of on-hand cash in his political war chest.