2026 Florida gubernatorial election

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2026 Florida gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Ron DeSantis
Republican



The 2026 Florida gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of Florida, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Contents

Background

A heavily populated South Atlantic state with a large and increasingly conservative Hispanic-American population and the northern parts lying in the Bible Belt, Florida is considered to be a moderately to strongly red state, not having elected a Democratic governor since 1994 and having moved significantly rightward in the last decade. In 2022, incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis was re-elected by a 19.4% margin, a considerable improvement from his 0.4-point victory four years earlier in the 2018 blue wave election.[ citation needed ] This was followed two years later by Republican Donald Trump winning his adoptive home state by a 13% margin as he won a second non-consecutive presidential term, building upon his 3.3% margin of victory in 2020 and seemingly diminishing Florida's longtime swing-state status. [1] Additionally, Republicans control all statewide offices, a large majority of the state's U.S. House delegation, both U.S. Senate seats and supermajorities in both houses of the Florida Legislature.

Eligibility and requirements

Article IV, Section 5(b) of the Florida Constitution states that, for a person to serve as governor, they must: [2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Byron Donalds

U.S. presidents

Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

  • Rick Scott, U.S. senator from Florida (2019–present); 45th Governor of Florida (2011–2019) [15]

U.S. representatives

State Executive Officials

  • Carlos Beruff, Chair of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (2017–2018) [13]

State senators

State representatives

Individuals

Organizations
Ashley Moody (declined)

Individuals

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Casey
DeSantis		Byron
Donalds		Matt
Gaetz		Ashley
Moody		Jeanette
Nuñez		Jimmy
Patronis		Wilton
Simpson		Francis
Suarez		Michael
Waltz		OtherUndecided
Fabrizio Lee & Associates [29] February 26–27, 2025600 (LV)± 5.0%30%34%––––3%–––33%
Victory Insights [30] January 26–27, 2025850 (LV)± 3.5%–34%––––5%–––61%
–31%––4%–3%1%––60%
Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research [31] 		June 8–9, 2024366 (RV)± 3.3%43%19%13%14%–5%–––7% [b] –
Victory Insights [32] April 3–6, 20241,200 (LV)± 2.9%–21%13%––3%2%–5%14% [c] 43%
University of North Florida [33] October 23 – November 4, 2023788 (LV)± 3.77%22%9%9%6%2%3%1%1%1%6% [d] 40%

Casey DeSantis vs. Matt Gaetz

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Casey
DeSantis		Matt
Gaetz		OtherUndecided
Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research [34] April 15–17, 2024372 (RV)± 3.3%38%16%20%26%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Independents

Filed paperwork

Publicly expressed interest

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [45] Solid RJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [46] Solid RFebruary 6, 2025

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Generic
Republican		Generic
Democrat		Undecided
Cygnal (R) [47] October 26–28, 2024600 (LV)± 3.98%48%41%11%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ "Someone else" with 7%
  3. ↑ "Someone else" with 14%
  4. ↑ "Someone else" with 6%

Partisan clients

    References

    1. ↑ "Florida Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin". 270toWin.com. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
    2. ↑ "Article IV, Florida Constitution". Ballotpedia . Retrieved May 13, 2023.
    3. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (March 31, 2025). "Charles Burkett, Surfside's 4-term Mayor, says he's running for Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 31, 2025.
    4. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly; Matat, Stephany (February 25, 2025). "Rep. Byron Donalds, backed by Trump, says he's running for Florida governor". Associated Press . Retrieved February 25, 2025.
    5. ↑ Llanos, Jackie (March 21, 2025). "Casey DeSantis on whether she'll run for governor: 'We'll see'". Florida Phoenix . Retrieved March 25, 2025.
    6. ↑ Calder, Rich (November 23, 2024). "Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz teases run for Florida governor". New York Post . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
    7. 1 2 Wilson, Kirby (January 7, 2025). "Matt Gaetz: 'I am starting to think about running for governor'". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved January 8, 2025.
    8. ↑ Little, Jim (November 14, 2024). "Campaign to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress starting to take shape". Pensacola News Journal . Retrieved November 18, 2024.
    9. 1 2 Neely, Samantha (November 25, 2024). "Can DeSantis run in 2026? Matt Gaetz and others who may get in race for Florida governor". Tallahassee Democrat . Retrieved November 28, 2024.
    10. 1 2 3 Ogles, Jacob (January 29, 2025). "Byron Donalds holds massive lead in poll on gubernatorial contenders". Florida Politics . Retrieved February 17, 2025.
    11. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (January 18, 2025). "2026 cash chase begins for Ashley Moody before Senate swearing-in". Florida Politics . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
    12. ↑ Dixon, Matt (February 20, 2025). "Trump backs Rep. Byron Donalds in his likely run for Florida governor in 2026". NBC News . Retrieved February 20, 2025.
    13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Wilson, Kirby (February 17, 2025). "Does Donald Trump have a favorite Republican in the 2026 governor's race?". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved March 18, 2025.
    14. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (March 17, 2025). "'A true patriot': Byron Donalds adds endorsement from Miami Young Republicans". Florida Politics . Retrieved February 20, 2025.
    15. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (March 17, 2025). "Rick Scott siding with Byron Donalds over Casey DeSantis for Florida Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 18, 2025.
    16. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly (March 18, 2025). "Trump-backed Byron Donalds gets first congressional endorsement for Florida governor". Politico . Retrieved March 18, 2025.
    17. 1 2 Leonard, Kimberly; Domínguez, Isa (March 28, 2025). "Parkland bill faces the state Senate — again". Politico . Retrieved March 28, 2025.
    18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ogles, Jacob (April 9, 2025). "Seven more Florida congressional colleagues endorse Byron Donalds for Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved April 9, 2025.
    19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dixon, Matt (February 26, 2025). "Florida leaders line up to endorse Byron Donalds on Day 1". Florida Politics . Retrieved February 26, 2025.
    20. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly; Domínguez, Isa (April 3, 2025). "Stephanie Murphy talks next moves — for her and for Democrats". Politico . Retrieved April 3, 2025.
    21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "LIVE: Byron Donalds Florida governor run kick off". FOX 35 Orlando . March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
    22. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (March 29, 2025). "'Bold and clear': Byron Donalds kicks off campaign for Governor from Bonita Springs". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 28, 2025.
    23. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (March 27, 2025). "Erika Donalds says Casey DeSantis 'teased a run' for Governor, but Byron Donalds can better deal with Florida issues". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 27, 2025.
    24. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (March 13, 2025). "Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk backs Byron Donalds' bid for Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 13, 2025.
    25. ↑ Caputo, Marc (March 12, 2025). "Scoop: Trump Jr. backs Donalds for Fla. governor in MAGA squeeze play". Axios . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
    26. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (March 10, 2025). "Poll: Donald Trump's endorsement gives Byron Donalds double-digit lead in GOP Primary for Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 13, 2025.
    27. ↑ Mitola, Will (March 11, 2025). "CfG PAC Endorses Rep. Byron Donalds in FL-GOV Race". Club for Growth . Retrieved March 11, 2025.
    28. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (May 8, 2024). "After Gainesville pizza problem, Ric Flair endorses Ashley Moody for Governor". Florida Politics.
    29. ↑ Fabrizio Lee & Associates
    30. ↑ Victory Insights
    31. ↑ Florida Atlantic University/
      Mainstreet Research
    32. ↑ Victory Insights
    33. ↑ University of North Florida
    34. ↑ Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research
    35. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, Kirby (January 10, 2025). "Who's running for Florida governor? How the 2026 field is shaping up". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
    36. ↑ Fineout, Gary; Leonard, Kimberly (March 25, 2025). "Anti-Trump former Republican David Jolly considers run for Florida governor". Politico . Retrieved March 25, 2025.
    37. ↑ Man, Anthony (September 21, 2024). "Dissatisfied with his party's potential candidates, Democratic state senator may run for Florida governor". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
    38. 1 2 Gancarski, A.G. (March 7, 2025). "Gwen Graham looks to make the 'right decision' about future. Another run for Governor?". Florida Politics . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
    39. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly (January 25, 2025). "Florida Democrats reelect Nikki Fried as state party chair". Politico . Retrieved March 25, 2025. Fried said in an interview after the vote that she would not be running for governor in 2026, as had been widely expected.
    40. ↑ Solender, Andrew (November 27, 2024). "Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026". Axios . Retrieved November 27, 2024.
    41. ↑ Adragna, Anthony (December 17, 2024). "Moskowitz brushes aside FEMA reports". Politico . Retrieved December 17, 2024. 'I am staying in Congress and running for re-election,' Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said
    42. ↑ Of Elections, Florida Division (June 26, 2024). "Candidate Tracking System". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
    43. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (March 31, 2025). "Charles Burkett, Surfside's 4-term Mayor, says he's running for Governor". Florida Politics . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    44. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly (December 12, 2024). "John Morgan on how he'd run for gov". Politico . Retrieved December 13, 2024.
    45. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
    46. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
    47. ↑ Cygnal (R)

    Official campaign websites

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