Poll: Daniella Levine Cava tops the guv, The Donald; but folks are afraid to bark

But voters feel chilling effect of cancel culture
Well, here’s something you don’t see every day in Florida: a Democrat woman leading both Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump in a popularity contest — and not just in the 305 liberal bubble, either.
According to the new Bendixen & Amandi poll of 600 voters between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3, released Monday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is riding higher than the two Republican powerhouses when it comes to local approval. Maybe it’s her mom-energy or the fact that she’s not yelling at Disney, but La Alcaldesa scored 54% approval overall — with support from a surprising majority of Republicans (54%) and nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%). Only independents seemed a tad disappointed, giving her 44% positive marks.
Read related: Poll says Miami-Dade voters divided on most issues — and thinking of leaving
That puts her comfortably ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s down to a lukewarm 47% combined approval and a chilly 55% disapproval among independents. DeSantis still rules the GOP kennel, though — 92% of Republicans say they love their guv, probably because he’s still picking fights with Washington, the media, doctors, teachers, drag queens, well, everyone. The anti-woke agenda is still going well for him inside the echo chamber.
Then there’s Donald Trump, whose numbers are reportedly dropping all over the MAGA world, even here en Trumplandia. Trump gets 46% approval overall in Miami-Dade, with Cuban voters keeping him afloat — 59% approve, nearly half of them strongly. But among Democrats, it’s almost universal loathing. Ladra probably couldn’t even print the words they used.
So yes, in the county where the GOP has made major inroads in recent elections, DLC may actually be the most popular elected official right now.
“One of Daniella Levine Cava’s super powers is that she has managed to not offend,” said Fernand Amandi, managing partner of what is perhaps the nation’s leading multilingual and multiethnic public opinion research and strategic communications consulting firm. “She doesn’t double down on prizing and as a result, she is palpable to a lot of different voter bases.”
Imagine that. Somebody call the mayor’s comms team — they just found their next fundraising email.
“The numbers reflect the deep rooted support and trust that Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has earned from Miami-Dade residents,” said Christian Ulvert, the mayor’s campaign consultant and political advisor. “While President Trump carried Miami-Dade with double digits last year, Mayor Levine Cava won the county in August by 35 points.”
True, that. But it might have been different if she had a real contender to force her into a runoff in November, when the GOP constitutional candidates swept in on The Donald’s coattails.
Either way, also happy: Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who is running for Miami mayor with DLC’s endorsement, which is apparently worth more than the Republican candidates in this “nonpartisan” race would like to think.
Read related: Daniella Levine Cava gives Higgins the expected abrazo in Miami mayor’s race
But, wait. Before anybody starts thinking Miami-Dade has turned into Denmark, the same poll shows something much darker about how we feel when we open our mouths.
Half the voters here — an even half — said they don’t feel safe expressing their opinions in public or online. Only 40% said they can speak freely without fear of retaliation.
And it cuts both ways. Republicans, usually the ones claiming “cancel culture,” were the only group where a majority — 56% — said they can speak freely. Democrats and independents? Most said they feel muzzled (53% and 63%, respectively). Ladra can’t help but think that this is intricately tied to the social media posts — and fallout from — that followed the public and horrifying assassination of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, less than a month before the survey, which have led to firings and calls for a Palmetto Bay councilman to resign.
That’s a sobering split for a community that prides itself on saying whatever we want — loudly, and with hand gestures. Maybe it’s the political polarization. Maybe it’s the online mob culture. Or maybe it’s just Miami people realizing that in the age of screenshots, “freedom of speech” doesn’t mean “freedom from consequences.”
Read related: State slapped with federal lawsuit after firing biologist for Charlie Kirk post
Amandi calls it a casualty of the MAGA culture wars.
“It’s very sad that a question that I’ve only asked before in communist Cuba I’d feel was a question to ask here, and to get those results was even sadder,” he told Political Cortadito. He said the chill caught across age groups. “Among young people, also a majority felt that they couldn’t speak out,” Amandi said.
So the main takeaway: It says something when more Miami-Dade residents trust Mayor Levine Cava with their trash pickup than they trust the system with their voice.
Because what good is democracy — or even a good cafecito debate — if half the county is afraid to engage?

For more independent coverage of Miami-Dade and local government, support the watchdog journalism on Political Cortadito with a contribution. Every little bit helps keep Ladra’s bark loud and her bite sharp.

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