New Poll Found Florida Voters Want Stronger Gun Laws by a Nearly 7:1 Margin, and That Gun Safety Messaging Deployed by Everytown Has Been Highly Impactful
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund Invested Nearly $7.1 Million in Florida This Cycle, Targeting the Presidential Race and Key State Legislative Contests
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Have Made More Than 375,000 Calls And Texts to Support Gun Sense Candidates in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund (“Everytown”) unveiled new polling of Florida voters, which found, just days before Election Day, that Florida voters want stronger gun safety laws by a nearly 7:1 margin. The survey also found that gun safety-themed messaging, deployed by Everytown in its paid advertising campaigns in Florida, has been highly effective at impacting Florida voters.
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund have invested nearly $7.1 million in Florida this cycle in order to elect gun sense champions up and down the ballot, including Vice President Biden and gun sense champions in key state legislative seats.
“Gun safety is an issue that touches voters on a personal level, and it can cut through the Trump-created chaos and shape their choices at the ballot box,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This newest polling gives us a hint of what’s already happening at the polls: Florida voters turning out in force to reject lawmakers who have blocked progress for so long.”
“Once again the data shows that gun safety is a triple threat – it mobilizes, persuades, and has become a litmus test issue for voters across battleground states,” said Charlie Kelly, senior political advisor for Everytown for Gun Safety. “Our messaging this cycle is effective because people are tired of inaction on gun violence and politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby.”
“Vice President Biden and Senator Harris are the strongest gun safety ticket in American history,” said Jenna Preble, volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As we’ve heard from the thousands of conversations we’ve had with voters, and as we can see from this poll, gun safety is a winning issue here in Florida – the ‘Gunshine State’ no more.”
The poll, conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research, surveyed 400 Florida voters. Findings include:
- Messaging deployed by Everytown is highly persuasive and effectively improves the horserace for Democrats in races up and down the ballot
- 85% of likely voters — including 87% of suburban women — say a candidate’s position on gun policy is important in deciding who to vote for;
- By a nearly 7:1 margin, Florida voters believe their state’s gun laws should be made stronger, not less strong
- 64% of likely voters — including 73% of suburban women —Florida voters believe the need for background checks on all gun sales is more important now than it was a year ago
- 61% of likely voters — including 73% of suburban women — say that an endorsement by the NRA makes no difference to their vote or makes them less likely to vote for a candidate who is endorsed by the NRA
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund spent more than $7 million in Florida during this election cycle, including:
Presidential:
- Roughly $7 million in television and digital ads that criticize President Trump for refusing to address the dual crises of gun violence and COVID-19 that continue to take American lives. The ads also highlight Trump siding with the gun lobby after receiving more than $31 million in political support from the NRA in 2016, and opposing common-sense gun safety laws after mass shootings in Parkland and in El Paso.
- Everytown’s broadcast and cable television ads totaled 5,200 GRPs and ran in the Tampa and Orlando media markets.
- By Election Day, Everytown’s digital ads supporting Biden in Florida will have been seen an estimated 155 million times by key voters who will decide Florida’s 29 Electoral College votes.
State Legislature:
- $100,000 to support digital ads to help elect gun sense candidates in key Florida Senate districts, including SD-09, SD-20, and SD-39.
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have also made more than 375,000 calls and texts to Florida voters to support gun sense candidates across the state.