Florida Governor Election 2026
Ron DeSantis (R) is term-limited. Rating: Lean R.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| David Jolly | Democratic | Former Republican congressman |
| Byron Donalds | Republican | U.S. Representative |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | David Jolly | Byron Donalds |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | Stetson Univ. | 41% | 52% |
| October 8, 2026 | St. Pete Polls | 45% | 45% |
| October 7, 2026 | Mason-Dixon | 41% | 48% |
| October 6, 2026 | YouGov | 45% | 47% |
Average of the 4 most recent polls: David Jolly 43%, Byron Donalds 48%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
David Jolly (D)
- Would replace Florida's six-week ban with access up to viability. (2026-10) source
- Supports banning sales of new assault weapons. (2026-02-13) source
- Supports universal background checks and expanded red-flag laws. (2026-02-13) source
- Wants clean energy integrated into Florida's utilities. (2026-10) source
- Would keep school choice but reform it. (2025-09-18) source
- Supports Medicaid expansion and extending ACA tax credits. (2025-10-22) source
- Supports legal status for some long-term residents and DACA recipients; opposes requiring local cooperation with ICE. (2026-02-10) source
- Would enact any amendment that wins majority support, including recreational marijuana. (2026-05-07) source
- Would protect marriage equality in state law. (2026-10) source
- Opposes male-born athletes in women's sports but says it isn't a governor's decision. (2026-10) source
- Calls for a data center moratorium until protections are in place. (2026-10) source
Byron Donalds (R)
- Supports abortion restrictions and says regulating abortion is the states' job. (2026-10) source
- Sponsored interstate concealed carry and voted against expanding background checks. (2022) source
- Voted for more ICE funding, a border wall and E-Verify. (2025) source
- Voted for federal tax credits for private-school scholarships. (2025) source
- Opposes the ACA and universal health care. (2025) source
- Voted to extend the 2017 tax cuts and backs phasing out property taxes. (2026-08-06) source
- Supports right-to-work laws and voted against expanding organizing rights. (2021) source
- Voted to end clean energy tax credits. (2025) source
- Opposes recreational marijuana. (2026-05-07) source
- Voted against federal recognition of same-sex marriage. (2022) source
- Voted against gender-transition care for minors. (2025) source
- Voted to bar transgender students from girls' sports. (2023) source
Sources
- 2026 United States gubernatorial elections (Wikipedia)
- 2026 Gubernatorial Race Overview (Brownstein, Sept. 23, 2026)
- Latest governor polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report governor ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Amid Ad Uproar, Ohio Governor’s Race Moves From Toss Up to Lean Democrat (Cook Political Report, Oct. 23, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.