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Map the Midterms2026 midterms information · not official

Governor

Florida Governor — 2026

Florida elects a governor on November 3, 2026. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds faces Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican U.S. representative, after the August 18 primary. Ballotpedia lists additional no-party and Libertarian candidates.

Cook Political Report: Likely R (August 27, 2026)

What this office is

A governor is the state’s chief executive. Typical duties include proposing a budget, signing or vetoing bills, appointing some officials, and commanding the state National Guard under state and federal law. Term length and term limits are set by each state’s constitution. Lieutenant-governor pairing, if any, follows that state’s ballot design. Florida’s gubernatorial nominee selects a lieutenant-governor running mate for the general-election ticket.

Why it matters in 2026

Cook published an August 27, 2026 analysis moving Florida’s open governorship from Solid to Likely Republican. Cabinet offices also appear statewide. Supervisors of elections print county sample ballots.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited. The seat is open.

This page highlights the two major-party nominees. Confirm every qualified line, including running mates, on your county sample ballot.

Candidates

Names below are declared or nominated figures reported as of mid-September 2026. Party labels identify tickets only. This is not an endorsement and not a certified list.

Official portrait of Rep. Byron Donalds

Byron Donalds

Republican

Republican nominee; U.S. representative, FL-19

Donalds has represented Florida’s 19th Congressional District since 2021. He won the August 2026 Republican primary for governor. House biographies list prior work in finance and the Florida House.

Read more:House officeWikipediaBallotpedia

Photo: U.S. House / public domain. Public domain (U.S. government work). Source

Official portrait of former Rep. David Jolly

David Jolly

Democratic

Democratic nominee; former Republican U.S. representative

Jolly represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District as a Republican from 2014 to 2017. He is the 2026 Democratic nominee for governor. Public biographies describe later work as a commentator and attorney.

Read more:WikipediaBallotpedia

Photo: U.S. House / public domain. Public domain (U.S. government work). Source

Published polls

Published surveys tagged to FL GovernorIndividual published surveys. Not a Map the Midterms average and not a prediction.
PollsterDatesSampleDemRepSpread
Change Research (Freedom Project USA)
Newsweek, Byron Donalds vs. David Jolly poll (Change Research) · accessed September 17, 2026
Sep 7–9, 20261,107 LV · ±2.847Jolly44DonaldsJolly +3
University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab
Newsweek, Byron Donalds vs. David Jolly poll (UNF PORL) · accessed September 17, 2026
Jul 8–17, 2026848 LV · ±3.841Jolly46DonaldsDonalds +5

Questions readers ask

When is Election Day?
The 2026 U.S. midterm general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot calendars differ by state.
Is this the official candidate list for this governor’s race?
No. Map the Midterms is not an election office. Confirm qualified names with the Florida Division of Elections and the official sample ballot for your address.
Are the poll numbers a forecast?
No. Tables show individual published surveys with the pollster, dates, sample, and a link. They are not a prediction and not an average unless a cited aggregator says so.

Other Florida guides