Democratic Poll Shows Tight Race for Ross’ Seat in Florida

Trump carried the 15th District by 10 points in 2016

Florida Rep. Dennis Ross is not running for re-election. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Florida Rep. Dennis Ross is not running for re-election. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Posted September 12, 2018 at 9:39pm

Democrat Kristen Carlson narrowly led Republican Ross Spano, well within the margin of error, in a poll of Florida’s open 15th District commissioned by her campaign. 

Carlson led Spano 48 percent to 47 percent, with 5 percent of likely voters undecided.

GOP incumbent Dennis A. Ross announced in April that he wouldn’t seek re-election opening up a district that President Donald Trump carried by 10 points in 2016. 

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research surveyed 400 likely voters from Sept. 4-8, with 45 percent of interviews conducted via cell phone. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

Carlson is a former prosecutor and general counsel to the Florida Department of Citrus. Spano is a state representative who was backed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in last month’s primary. 

Spano ended the pre-primary reporting period with a financial advantage. He had $111,000 in the bank to Carlson’s $51,000. 

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Republican