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 term in office.
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
- Richard Corcoran, president of New College of Florida (2023–present), former commissioner of the Florida Department of Education (2019–2022), and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2016–2018) from the 37th district (2010–2018)[5]
- Casey DeSantis, former WJXT newscaster and First Lady of Florida (2019–present)[6]
- Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida (2019–present)[7]
- Jeanette Nuñez, Lieutenant Governor of Florida (2019–present)[8]
- Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer of Florida (2017–present)[9]
- Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from Florida and candidate for president in 2016[10]
- Anthony Sabatini, chair of the Lake County Republican Party (2022–present), former state representative from the 32nd district (2018–2022), and candidate for in 2022 and the in 2024
- Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (2023–present)
- Francis Suarez, mayor of Miami (2017–present) and candidate for president in 2024
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 |
|---|
Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research | data-sort-value="2024-06-09" | June 8–9, 2024 | 366 (RV) | ± 3.3% | | 43% | 19% | 13% | 14% | – | 5% | – | – | – | 7% | – |
| Victory Insights | data-sort-value="2024-04-06" | April 3–6, 2024 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.9% | – | | 20.6% | 12.8% | – | – | 2.9% | 2.1% | – | 5% | 14.1% | | 42.5% |
| University of North Florida | 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
Independents
Filed paperwork
- Moliere Dimanche, writer[20]
Publicly expressed interest
See also
Notes
- Partisan clients
References
- Web site: Article IV, Florida Constitution . 2023-05-13 . Ballotpedia . en.
- Web site: Aabram . Virginia . 2023-03-04 . Is Byron Donalds the next Florida GOP superstar? . 2023-05-13 . Washington Examiner . en.
- Web site: Leonard . Kimberly . April 6, 2023 . Stunning endorsement: DeSantis ally Rep. Byron Donalds backs Trump for president in 2024 . 2023-05-13 . Business Insider . en-US.
- News: Dixon . Matt . 'He's 100% in': Matt Gaetz widely expected to run for Florida governor . 18 September 2023 . . September 18, 2023.
- Web site: While DeSantis struggles with his run for president, who's next for Florida governor? . 2023-07-28 . Tallahassee Democrat . en-US.
- Web site: Palmeri . Tara . 2023-08-18 . Imagining "Jillary" DeSantis . 2023-09-19 . Puck . en-US.
- Web site: Fineout . Gary . 2023-05-15 . The Trump-DeSantis choice coming for Florida GOP . 2023-05-15 . Politico . en.
- Web site: Fineout . Gary . Carney . Jordain . 2023-02-16 . Matt Gaetz had a hell of a month. What’s next for the Florida Republican? . 2023-05-13 . Politico . en.
- Web site: Ogles . Jacob . Jimmy Patronis’ family wants him to run for Governor . Florida Politics . 24 June 2023 . 23 June 2023.
- Web site: Caputo . Marc A. . Trump: ‘Marco has this residency problem.’ . 2024-05-01 . www.thebulwark.com . en.
- Web site: Ray . Sha'de . 2023-10-08 . Congressman Matt Gaetz denies plans for 2026 governor run . 2023-10-10 . WEAR . en.
- Web site: Man . Anthony . 2023-11-03 . Sen. Shevrin Jones may run for Florida governor in 2026. He’d be nation’s first Black openly gay governor. . 2023-11-03 . Sun Sentinel . en-US.
- News: . March 6, 2024 . DeSantis sends state troops to manage spring breakers. March 6, 2024 . Leonard, Kimberly .
- Web site: Jackson . Ken . 2023-11-11 . A way-too-early look at the ’26 Governor’s election . 2023-11-11 . Around Osceola.
- Web site: 2023-10-10 . So who’s going to be the next governor of Florida? . 2024-03-05 . City & State FL . en.
- Web site: Florida Democrats may be about to get a big name against 'ass clown' senator . 2023-09-06 . Daily Kos . en.
- Web site: Elias . Dave . 2023-09-20 . 4 potential candidates emerge in 2026 Florida governor's race . 2023-09-21 . NBC2 News . en-US.
- Web site: Fineout . Gary . Florida Dems elect Nikki Fried to lead the party after ‘horrific November’ . Politico . 18 May 2023.
- News: Wilson . Kirby . The 2026 Florida governor’s race is already taking shape. Here’s who could run. . May 24, 2024 . . May 24, 2024 . en.
- Web site: Of Elections . Florida Division . Candidate Tracking System . Florida Division of Elections . 26 June 2024 . 26 June 2024.
- Web site: Soule . Douglas . John Morgan endorses recreational marijuana in Florida, says he 'might' run for governor . . 16 July 2024 . 29 May 2024.
