The 2026 Florida gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, with party primaries scheduled for August 18, 2026. With incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis term-limited and unable to seek re-election, the race is fully open for the first time since 2018.
Florida has trended strongly Republican in recent election cycles, making the GOP primary the central battleground. While dozens of candidates have filed paperwork with the state, the field is dominated by a small number of high-profile contenders.
Republican Candidates
The Republican primary is widely viewed as the decisive contest.
Byron Donalds
U.S. Representative (FL-19)
- Announced: February 2025
- Status: Clear frontrunner
- Notable support: Endorsed early by President Donald Trump, with backing from Sen. Rick Scott and multiple Florida Republicans
- Fundraising: More than $40–45 million reported by early 2026
- Polling: Leading the GOP field by wide margins in early 2026 surveys
Donalds has consolidated Trump-aligned support and currently holds commanding leads in both polling and fundraising.
Paul Renner
Former Speaker of the Florida House
- Announced: September 2025
- Positions himself as an experienced conservative legislator
- Polling in the single digits in early surveys
James Fishback
CEO of Azoria
- Announced: November 2025
- Campaigns on “America First” themes, particularly immigration and economic nationalism
- Polling in low single digits
Other Republican Filers
Several additional Republicans have filed, including Charles Burkett and activist Bobby Williams, though none are currently considered top-tier contenders.
Potential Entrant
- Jay Collins, Florida’s lieutenant governor, has expressed interest but has not formally declared as of January 2026. Some observers view him as a possible DeSantis-aligned alternative, should he enter the race.
Democratic Candidates
Democrats face long odds in Florida, having not won the governor’s office since 1994. Still, two major candidates have emerged.
David Jolly
Former U.S. Representative
- Announced: June 2025
- A former Republican turned Democrat, positioning himself as a moderate with crossover appeal
- Has drawn support from establishment Democrats and former elected officials
Jerry Demings
Mayor of Orange County
- Announced: November 2025
- Former law-enforcement leader with a public-safety-focused message
- Polling competitively with Jolly in early Democratic surveys
Several other prominent Florida Democrats have declined to run, while a small number of minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates have filed.
Current Landscape
- Republican advantage: Florida’s voter registration and recent election results heavily favor Republicans.
- Primary outlook: Byron Donalds is the dominant figure in the GOP field, with strong Trump-aligned backing.
- General election ratings: Early handicappers broadly rate the race as Solid Republican or Lean Republican, depending on the final matchup.
- Intrastate dynamics: The contest reflects a broader divide between Trump-aligned Republicans and figures more closely tied to the DeSantis political network.
What to Watch Next
Candidate qualifying deadlines, potential late entries, and primary debates could still reshape the field. For the most up-to-date and complete list of filed candidates — including minor-party and independent contenders — voters should consult the Florida Division of Elections candidate database.
For now, the race to succeed Ron DeSantis is centered on a Republican primary where Byron Donalds holds a commanding early lead, with Democrats hoping for a competitive general election in a challenging political environment.
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