The 2026 Florida governor’s race already has a crowded field, with several declared candidates and a few notable names still in the mix. The main contenders reported so far include Republicans Byron Donalds, Jay Collins, Paul Renner, Charles Burkett, and James Fishback, plus Democrats David Jolly and Jerry Demings.

Republicans

Declared Republican candidates reported so far include:

  • Byron Donalds, U.S. representative and Trump-endorsed contender.
  • Jay Collins, Florida lieutenant governor.
  • Paul Renner, former Florida House speaker.
  • Charles Burkett, mayor of Surfside.
  • James Fishback, CEO of Azoria.

Democrats

Declared Democratic candidates reported so far include:

  • David Jolly, former U.S. representative.
  • Jerry Demings, mayor of Orange County.

What’s changing

This race is still developing, so the candidate list can shift as filing dates and campaign launches continue. Reports from late 2025 said as many as 27 people had filed or were exploring the race, which shows how unsettled the field still is.

Fast context

Florida’s governor election is set for November 3, 2026, and incumbent Ron DeSantis is term-limited, so the seat is open. The primary is scheduled for August 18, 2026.

A compact HTML table version is below:

PartyNames reported so far
RepublicanByron Donalds, Jay Collins, Paul Renner, Charles Burkett, James Fishback
DemocraticDavid Jolly, Jerry Demings
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