The race for Florida governor in 2026 is shaping up to be particularly crowded, with 36 candidates officially declared as of January 16. Here is an overview of the candidates, one of whom will take over from outgoing Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Profiles of the candidates for Florida governor
First, Jay Collins, the state’s lieutenant governor and a close ally of Ron DeSantis, has announced his candidacy. The 47-year-old is highlighting his long military career and political experience in the Florida Senate. DeSantis praises Collins but has not officially endorsed him, unlike his rival Byron Donalds, who is supported by Trump. Other candidates are in the Republican camp, while on the Democratic side, David Jolly and Jerry Demings are the frontrunners.
A campaign start dominated by Byron Donalds
According to a Mason-Dixon poll published on January 15, Republican Representative Byron Donalds, who is backed by Trump, has a significant lead in the Republican primary, with 37% of voting intentions, well ahead of Collins (7%) and former House Speaker Paul Renner (4%), as well as businessman James Fishback (3%). However, it should be noted that nearly half of Republican voters (49%) remain undecided, leaving the race wide open.
On the Democratic side, the poll shows a slight lead for David Jolly, a former Republican representative who switched to the Democratic Party, with 23% of voting intentions, compared to 19% for Jerry Demings, mayor of Orange County in the center of the state. Here too, uncertainty prevails, with 58% of Democratic voters still undecided.
Political betting
Political betting platforms also reflect the current trend. On Polymarket, 80% of bettors are betting on a Donalds victory in the Republican primary, and for the general election, 92% of bets are on a Republican candidate winning. The perceived political climate is therefore favorable to the Republican Party.
An exceptionally large number of candidates
The list of candidates includes 12 Republicans, 10 Democrats, three independents, one Libertarian, seven candidates with no political affiliation, one Constitution Party candidate, and two write-in candidates. A “write-in” candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters can vote by writing their name on the ballot (this system is mainly used in the United States). In addition, the profiles are extremely varied: former military personnel, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, influencers, community leaders, and even repeat candidates for various positions.
Apart from the most prominent candidates, the others often receive little media coverage and represent a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds. It remains to be seen whether DeSantis’ wife, Casey, who is under investigation for embezzlement, will join the race.
Election calendar
The Florida primary will take place on August 18, 2026, and Floridians have until July 20 to register or change their political affiliation. According to experts, with such a large field and a high level of indecision in both parties (Republican and Democrat), the campaign is shaping up to be long, costly, and unpredictable. It will also be marked by Trump’s continuing influence in Republican politics and the reshaping of the Democratic landscape in Florida.
