2026 Florida gubernatorial election explained
| Election Name: | 2026 Florida gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Florida |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 2022 Florida gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2022 |
| Next Election: | 2030 Florida gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2030 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2026 |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Governor |
| Before Election: | Ron DeSantis |
| Before Party: | 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.
Eligibility and requirements
Article IV, Section 5(b), of the Florida Constitution states that, for a person to serve as governor, they must:[1]
- Be at least thirty years old;
- Be a permanent resident of Florida for at least seven years;
- Not have served as governor for six years or more of the two prior terms.
Republican primary
Candidates
Publicly expressed interest
Potential
Declined
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s)
administered | Sample
size | Margin
| Casey
DeSantis | Byron
Donalds | Matt
Gaetz | Ashley
Moody | Jeanette
Nuñez | Jimmy
Patronis | Wilton
Simpson | Francis
Suarez | Michael
Waltz | Other | Undecided |
|---|
| Victory Insights[10] | January 26–27, 2025 | 850 (LV) | ± 3.5% | – | | 34% | – | – | – | – | 5% | – | – | – | | 61% |
| – | | 31% | – | – | 4% | – | 3% | 1% | – | – | | 60% |
Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research[11] | data-sort-value="2024-06-09" | June 8–9, 2024 | 366 (RV) | ± 3.3% | | 43% | 19% | 13% | 14% | – | 5% | – | – | – | 7% | – |
| Victory Insights[12] | data-sort-value="2024-04-06" | April 3–6, 2024 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.9% | – | | 21% | 13% | – | – | 3% | 2% | – | 5% | 14% | | 43% |
| University of North Florida[13] | data-sort-value="2023-11-04" | October 23 – November 4, 2023 | 788 (LV) | ± 3.77% | | 22% | 9% | 9% | 6% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 6% | | 40% | |
Casey DeSantis vs. Matt Gaetz
Democratic primary
Candidates
Publicly expressed interest
Potential
Declined
Independents
Filed paperwork
Publicly expressed interest
General election
Predictions
Polling
Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat
See also
Notes
Partisan clients
References
- Web site: Article IV, Florida Constitution . 2023-05-13 . Ballotpedia . en.
- Web site: Rep. Byron Donalds makes his move ahead of expected 2026 Florida gubernatorial bid. Dixon. Matt. January 15, 2025. January 17, 2025. NBC News.
- News: . November 24, 2024 . Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz teases run for Florida governor. Calder, Rich . November 23, 2024 .
- News: . January 8, 2025 . Matt Gaetz: 'I am starting to think about running for governor'. January 7, 2025 . Wilson, Kirby .
- Web site: Campaign to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress starting to take shape. Little. Jim. November 14, 2024. November 18, 2024. Pensacola News Journal.
- Web site: Scheckner . Jesse . 'That would be interesting': Francis Suarez again floats Governor's run . . 21 December 2024 . 22 July 2024.
- Web site: Neely . Samantha . Can DeSantis run in 2026? Matt Gaetz and others who may get in race for Florida governor . November 28, 2024 . November 25, 2024 . . en-US.
- News: Gancarski, A.G. . July 7, 2024 . Flagship conservative mag floats 'clearing a lane' for Casey DeSantis' Governor run . August 27, 2024 . Florida Politics.
- News: . November 28, 2024 . May 13, 2024 . Wilson, Kirby . Casey DeSantis has 'zero' interest in running for governor, Ron DeSantis says.
- https://irp.cdn-website.com/07e08705/files/uploaded/PollReport_FL-2026_1-29-2025.pdf Victory Insights
- https://www.faupolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mainstreet_FL_June_2024_Public.pdf Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research
- https://irp.cdn-website.com/07e08705/files/uploaded/PollReport_FloridaGOP_2026Governor_04-12-2024.pdf Victory Insights
- https://www.unfporl.org/uploads/1/4/4/5/144559024/unf_porl_fall23_repprim_statewide.pdf University of North Florida
- https://www.faupolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/mainstreet-florida-apr-2024-public.pdf Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research
- News: Wilson . Kirby . Who’s running for Florida governor? How the 2026 field is shaping up. . January 10, 2025 . . January 10, 2025 . en.
- Web site: Man . Anthony . Dissatisfied with his party’s potential candidates, Democratic state senator may run for Florida governor . . 6 October 2024 . https://archive.today/20240921173526/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/09/21/dissatisfied-with-his-partys-potential-candidates-democratic-state-senator-may-run-for-florida-governor/ . 21 September 2024 . 21 September 2024 . live.
- Web site: Hanks . Douglas . Miami-Dade's Democratic mayor won big this week. Is a run for Florida governor next? . . 6 October 2024 . https://archive.today/20240822130234/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article291242875.html . 22 August 2024 . 21 August 2024 . live . subscription.
- Web site: Ogles . Jacob . Nikki Fried confirms she will not run for Governor in 2026 . . 25 January 2025 . 25 January 2025.
- News: Solender . Andrew . Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026 . November 27, 2024 . Axios . November 27, 2024 . en.
- Web site: 2024-12-17 . Moskowitz brushes aside FEMA reports . 2024-12-17 . . Adragna, Anthony . 'I am staying in Congress and running for re-election,' Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said . en.
- Web site: Of Elections . Florida Division . Candidate Tracking System . Florida Division of Elections . 26 June 2024 . 26 June 2024.
- Web site: Leonard . Kimberly . John Morgan on how he'd run for gov . . 13 December 2024 . 12 December 2024.
- Web site: 2025-26 Gubernatorial Elections Map. live. January 22, 2025. 270toWin.
- Web site: 2026 CPR Governor Race ratings . Cook Political Report . January 23, 2025 . en.
- https://www.cygn.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/22701-Cygnal-FL-Deck.pdf Cygnal (R)
