2026 Florida gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Florida gubernatorial election

November 3, 2026

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 election to a third consecutive 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

• Byron Donalds, U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district (2021–present)^[2][3]
• Matt Gaetz, former U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district (2017–2024)^[4][3]
• Ashton Hayward, former Mayor of Pensacola (2011–2018)^[5]
• Francis Suarez, mayor of Miami (2017–present)^[6]

Potential

• Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida (2019–present)^[7][3]
• Jeanette Nuñez, Lieutenant Governor of Florida (2019–present)^[7][3]
• Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (2023–present)^[7]

Declined

• Casey DeSantis, former WJXT newscaster and First Lady of Florida (2019–present)^[8]

Endorsements

Ashley Moody^[a]

Individuals

• Ric Flair, former professional wrestler^[9]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	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[10]	June 8–9, 2024	366 (RV)	± 3.3%	43%	19%	13%	14%	–	5%	–	–	–	7%[c]	–
Victory Insights[11]	April 3–6, 2024	1,200 (LV)	± 2.9%	–	21%	13%	–	–	3%	2%	–	5%	14%[d]	43%
University of North Florida[12]	October 23 – November 4, 2023	788 (LV)	± 3.77%	22%	9%	9%	6%	2%	3%	1%	1%	1%	6%[e]	40%

Casey DeSantis vs. Matt Gaetz

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Casey DeSantis	Matt Gaetz	Other	Undecided
Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research[13]	April 15–17, 2024	372 (RV)	± 3.3%	38%	16%	20%	26%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Shevrin Jones, state senator from the 35th district (2020–present) and chair of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party (2024–present)^[3]
• Jason Pizzo, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present)^[14][15]

Potential

• Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County (2020–present)^[16]

Declined

• Jared Moskowitz, U.S. representative from Florida's 23rd congressional district (2023–present)^[17] (running for re-election)^[18]

Independents

Filed paperwork

• Moliere Dimanche, writer^[19]

Publicly expressed interest

• John Morgan, lawyer and founder of Morgan & Morgan^[20]

General election

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Generic Republican	Generic Democrat	Undecided
Cygnal (R)[21]	October 26–28, 2024	600 (LV)	± 3.98%	48%	41%	11%

See also

• List of governors of Florida
• 2026 United States gubernatorial elections

Notes

1. Has not declared her candidacy
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
3. "Someone else" with 7%
4. "Someone else" with 14%
5. "Someone else" with 6%

Partisan clients

References

1. "Article IV, Florida Constitution". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
2. Adragna, Anthony (November 27, 2024). "Johnson's next margin headache: Manchin-style Republicans". Politico. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
3. Neely, Samantha (November 25, 2024). "Can DeSantis run in 2026? Matt Gaetz, Matt Taylor aka Matt The Welder and others who may get in race for Florida governor". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
4. Calder, Rich (November 23, 2024). "Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz teases run for Florida governor". New York Post. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
5. Little, Jim (November 14, 2024). "Campaign to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress starting to take shape". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
6. Scheckner, Jesse (July 22, 2024). "'That would be interesting': Francis Suarez again floats Governor's run". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
7. Gancarski, A.G. (July 7, 2024). "Flagship conservative mag floats 'clearing a lane' for Casey DeSantis' Governor run". Florida Politics. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
8. Wilson, Kirby (May 13, 2024). "Casey DeSantis has 'zero' interest in running for governor, Ron DeSantis says". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
9. Gancarski, A.G. (May 8, 2024). "After Gainesville pizza problem, Ric Flair endorses Ashley Moody for Governor". Florida Politics.
10. Florida Atlantic University/
    Mainstreet Research
11. Victory Insights
12. University of North Florida
13. Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research
14. 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.
15. Man, Anthony (November 25, 2024). "Potential candidates already look to 2026. LaMarca for Congress? Book's return to Florida Senate?". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 27, 2024. [Pizzo's] also said he might seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026
16. Hanks, Douglas (August 21, 2024). "Miami-Dade's Democratic mayor won big this week. Is a run for Florida governor next?". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
17. 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.
18. 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
19. Of Elections, Florida Division (June 26, 2024). "Candidate Tracking System". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
20. Leonard, Kimberly (December 12, 2024). "John Morgan on how he'd run for gov". Politico. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
21. Cygnal (R)