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2026 Florida gubernatorial election

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The 2026 Florida gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Florida. Primary elections took place on August 18, 2026.[1] Incumbent governor Ron DeSantis is ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2026 Florida gubernatorial election
← 2022
November 3, 2026
2030 →
 
Nominee Byron Donalds David Jolly
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Bryan Avila Gwen Graham
Incumbent Governor

Ron DeSantis
Republican


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Republicans have won every gubernatorial election in Florida since 1998. If he wins, Byron Donalds would become the first African American governor of Florida, and the first African American governor elected in the Deep South, and the first elected African American Republican governor.[a] This is the second consecutive Florida gubernatorial election in which the Democratic nominee is a former Republican.

Background

A heavily populated South Atlantic state with a large and increasingly conservative Latino American population and the northern parts lying in the Bible Belt, Florida is considered to be a moderately to strongly red state, having not elected a Democratic governor since 1994 nor a Democrat for president since 2012 and having moved significantly rightward in the last decade.[2] In 2022, incumbent governor Ron DeSantis was re-elected by a 19.4% margin, a considerable improvement from his 0.4-point victory four years earlier in the gubernatorial election during the 2018 blue wave.[3]

This was followed in 2024 by Republican Donald Trump winning his adoptive home state by a 13% margin as he won a second non-consecutive presidential term, improving his 3.4% margin of victory in 2020 and seemingly diminishing Florida's longtime swing-state and bellwether status. Republicans also control all statewide offices, a large majority of the state's U.S. House delegation, both U.S. Senate seats, and supermajorities in both houses of the Florida Legislature.[3]

Candidate eligibility and requirements

Article IV, Section 5(b) of the Florida Constitution states that, for a person to serve as governor, they must:[4]

  • 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

Lieutenant Governor of Florida Jay Collins finished second in the primary.

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Failed to qualify

  • Charles Burkett, mayor of Surfside (2006–2010, 2020–2022, 2024–2026) (running as an Independent)[15]
  • Shea Cruel, U.S. veteran[12]
  • Jenny Patricia Curtman, naturopathic doctor[12]
  • Daniel J. Imperato, consultant[12]
  • John Joseph Mercadante, retired carpenter[12]

Withdrawn

  • Bill Reicherter, real estate agent, candidate for state house in 2024, and candidate for state senate in 2022[16]

Declined

Endorsements

Jay Collins
State representatives
Local officials
Organizations
Byron Donalds
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Party officials
Local officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
James Fishback
Executive branch officials
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations
Paul Renner
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Organizations
Ashley Moody (declined)
Individuals
Declined to endorse
Statewide officials

Debates

More information Date, Host ...
2026 Florida Republican gubernatorial debate
Date Host Moderators Link Republican Republican Republican Republican
Key:  P  Participant   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
 A  Absent   N  Not invited 
Jay Collins Byron Donalds James Fishback Paul Renner
July 2, 2026[99][100] PBD Podcast Patrick Bet-David Youtube P A[d] P P
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Cancelled debates

In June 2026, the Republican Party of Florida announced that they would not be hosting a gubernatorial debate, as originally planned, later that month. The party stated that they had made the decision to cancel the debate after no candidate except Donalds met its qualifications.[101] The party's minimum requirements for a candidate to participate included:

  • At least 10% support in a Republican party-sponsored primary voter poll
  • A minimum $10 million in raised contributions
  • Over 10,000 unique individual campaign donors

The announcement drew criticism from gubernatorial candidates Collins, Fishback, and Renner, as well as incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis.[101] DeSantis attacked the party for trying to "engineer the outcome" of the primary election and acting against "the best interest of Republican voters."[101] DeSantis additionally noted that he himself would not have qualified under the set criteria during his 2018 primary run.[102] The Miami Herald also panned the decision, calling for a primary debate to take place.[103]

On June 24, WJAX-TV announced that the planned CBS debate would be cancelled, after "a majority of the Republican candidates didn’t agree to participate." Only Fishback and Renner agreed to debate, with Collins stating that he would only accept if Donalds showed as well. Donalds refused to participate in any debate, leading Fishback labeling Donalds a "coward".[104]

On June 25, Renner announced on X that the planned Fox 13 debate, set for July 21, had been cancelled.[105]

More information Date, Host ...
2026 Florida Republican cancelled gubernatorial debates
Date Host Moderators Location Republican Republican Republican Republican
Key:  P  Participant   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
 A  Absent   N  Not invited 
Jay Collins Byron Donalds James Fishback Paul Renner
June 27, 2026[106] Republican Party of Florida TBA Fort Lauderdale N I N N
July 15, 2026[101][107][104] CBS News TBA Jacksonville I[e] I[f] I I
July 21, 2026[108][105] Fox News TBA Tampa N I[g] I N
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Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of August 13, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of August 13, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent
Jay Collins (R) $1,842,546 $352,104
Byron Donalds (R) $13,792,445 $5,377,379
James Fishback (R) $705,217 $699,846
Paul Renner (R) $1,090,595 $470,796
Sources:[109][110][111][112][113]
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Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Jay
Collins		 Byron
Donalds		 James
Fishback		 Paul
Renner		 Other/
Undecided[h]		 Margin
270toWin[114] July 13 – August 6, 2026 August 18, 2026 13.5% 47.5% 9.0% 4.5% 25.5% Donalds +34.0%
Decision Desk HQ[115] through August 11, 2026 August 18, 2026 16.6% 37.2% 18.4% 7.6% 20.2% Donalds +18.8%
FiftyPlusOne[116] through August 11, 2026 August 18, 2026 15.5% 39.9% 15.0% — 29.6% Donalds +24.4%
RealClearPolitics[117] July 8 – 29, 2026 August 18, 2026 13.6% 45.4% 9.6% 4.0% 27.4% Donalds +31.8%
Race to the WH[118] through July 29, 2026 August 18, 2026 16.0% 45.5% 9.5% 4.9% 24.1%[i] Donalds +29.5%
Average 15.0% 43.1% 12.3% 5.3% 25.4% Donalds +28.1%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Jay
Collins		 Byron
Donalds		 James
Fishback		 Paul
Renner		 Other Undecided
David J Wolfson[119][A] July 28–29, 2026 988 (LV) ± 3.0% 30% 46% 10% 6% 4%[k] 4%
Quantus Insights (R)[120][B] July 27–29, 2026 635 (LV) ± 4.1% 16% 50% 12% 4% 5%[l] 13%
Targoz Market Research[121][C] July 20–26, 2026 532 (LV) — 18% 49% 4% 8% 4%[m] 17%
592 (RV) 17% 47% 4% 9% 4%[n] 20%
Listener Group/
Political Matrix News (R)[122]		 July 21–23, 2026 1,020 (LV) ± 3.1% 2% 32% 13% 19% — 32%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[123][D] July 14–16, 2026 400 (LV) — 10% 53% 9% 4% — 24%
Cygnal (R)[124] July 12–13, 2026 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 11% 43% 12% 2% — 31%
Change Research (D)[125] July 9–11, 2026 — (LV) — 14% 37% 12% 2% 5%[o] 30%
The Tyson Group (R)[126] July 8–11, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 9% 48% 8% 4% 4%[p] 27%
David J Wolfson[127][A] July 2–6, 2026 934 (LV) ± 3.0% 20% 38% 10% 2% — 28%
McLaughlin & Associates (R)[128][E] June 3–7, 2026 386 (LV) ± 3.0% 5% 54% 8% 2% — 31%
Listener Group/
Political Matrix News (R)[122]		 May 31 – June 3, 2026 973 (LV) ± 3.1% 11% 29% 2% 14% — 44%
Change Research (D)[129][F] May 13–16, 2026 — (LV) — 8% 48% 9% 3% — 28%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[130] April 26–30, 2026 420 (LV) ± 4.78% 7% 54% 9% 2% — 28%
Stetson University[131] March 25 – April 13, 2026 373 (LV) — 6% 38% 5% 7% 17% 28%
Keystone Analytics[132] March 27 – April 6, 2026 795 (LV) ± 3.5% — 43% 19% — — 38%
Tarrance Group (R)[133][D] March 30 – April 2, 2026 466 (LV) ± 4.7% 6% 50% 9% 3% — 32%
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 465 (LV) ± 4.5% 4% 46% 4% 3% 4%[q] 39%
The American Promise[135] February 23–26, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 4% 44% 5% 2% — 45%
University of North Florida[136] February 16–20, 2026 657 (LV) ± 4.38% 4% 31% 6% 1% 6% 51%
3% 28% 4% 1% 28%[r] 36%
Targoz Market Research[137][C] February 13–16, 2026 401 (RV) — 15% 33% 3% 9% — 40%
Patriot Polling (R)[138] January 19–29, 2026 827 (LV) ± 4.0% — 37% 23% — — 40%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[139] January 8–13, 2026 400 (RV) ± 5.0% 7% 37% 3% 4% — 49%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[140][D] January 4–6, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 6% 45% 4% 3% — 41%
— 39% 3% 1% 26%[s] 31%
— 47% 5% 4% — 43%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[141][G] December 7–11, 2025 700 (RV) ± 3.7% 13% 40% — — 9% 38%
The Tyson Group (R)[143] December 8–9, 2025 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 9% 38% 2% 1% — 49%
The American Promise[144] November 17–19, 2025 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 1% 43% 0% 2% — 54%
Victory Insights (R)[145] November 11–13, 2025 600 (LV) — 1% 45% 1% 3% — 49%
St. Pete Polls[146][H] October 13–15, 2025 1,034 (LV) ± 3.0% 4% 39% — 3% — 54%
12% 52% — — — 36%
Targoz Market Research[147][C] September 16–18, 2025 506 (RV) — — 29% — 9% — 62%
The American Promise[148] September 4–5, 2025 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 2% 40% — 2% — 54%
Close
Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Casey
DeSantis		 Byron
Donalds		 Matt
Gaetz		 Ashley
Moody		 Jeanette
Nuñez		 Jimmy
Patronis		 Wilton
Simpson		 Francis
Suarez		 Michael
Waltz		 Other Undecided
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 465 (LV) ± 4.5% 7% 44% — — — — — — — 15%[t] 34%
St. Pete Polls[146][H] October 13–15, 2025 1,034 (LV) ± 3.0% 21% 47% — — — — — — — — 36%
Targoz Market Research[147][C] September 16–18, 2025 510 (RV) — 26% 23% — — — — 2% — — 9%[u] 39%
University of North Florida[149] July 14–22, 2025 797 (RV) ± 3.9% 32% 29% 8% — — — 1% 2% — 10%[v] 18%
St. Pete Polls[150][151][H] July 8–10, 2025 831 (LV) ± 3.4% 27% 35% — — — — 3% — — 2%[w] 32%
Targoz Market Research[152][153][C] May 5–7, 2025 516 (RV) — 29% 28% 10% — 7% — 4% 5% — 4%[x] 13%
Targoz Market Research[152][154][C] April 15–22, 2025 619 (RV) — 28% 22% 8% — 9% — 4% 7% — 4%[x] 18%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[155] February 26–27, 2025 600 (LV) ± 5.0% 30% 34% — — — — 3% — — — 33%
Victory Insights (R)[156] January 26–27, 2025 850 (LV) ± 3.5% — 34% — — — — 5% — — — 61%
— 31% — — 4% — 3% 1% — — 60%
Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research[157]		 June 8–9, 2024 366 (RV) ± 3.3% 43% 19% 13% 14% — 5% — — — 7%[y] —
Florida Atlantic University/
Mainstreet Research[158]		 April 15–17, 2024 372 (RV) ± 3.3% 38% — 16% — — — — — — 20%[z] 26%
Victory Insights (R)[159] April 3–6, 2024 1,200 (LV) ± 2.9% — 21% 13% — — 3% 2% — 5% 14%[aa] 43%
University of North Florida[160] October 23 – November 4, 2023 788 (LV) ± 3.8% 22% 9% 9% 6% 2% 3% 1% 1% 1% 6%[ab] 40%
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Results

Primary results by county:
  Donalds
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Collins
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Byron Donalds 810,552 47.8
Republican Jay Collins 426,696 25.2
Republican James Fishback 177,660 10.5
Republican Paul Renner 144,950 8.5
Republican Bobby Williams 69,026 4.1
Republican Rachel Rodriguez 27,602 1.6
Republican Jim Holcomb 13,172 0.8
Republican James Walker Shaw 7,878 0.5
Republican Arthur Joseph McCaffrey 7,039 0.4
Republican Caneste Succe 6,266 0.4
Republican Daniel Nokovich 5,188 0.3
Total votes 1,696,029 100.0
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Lieutenant gubernatorial nomination

Nominee

Considered, but not selected

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

David Jolly
Executive branch officials
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers
Dayna Marie Foster
Organizations
Jerry Demings (withdrawn)
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Jerry
Demings		 Dayna Marie
Foster		 David
Jolly		 Other Undecided
Targoz Market Research[121][C] July 20–26, 2026 341 (LV) — — 4% 47% 4%[ad] 42%
389 (RV) — 5% 42% 4%[ae] 46%
Change Research (D)[125] July 9–11, 2026 — (LV) — — 11% 42% 8%[af] 40%
June 5, 2026 Demings withdraws from the race
Change Research (D)[129][F] May 13–16, 2026 — (LV) — 27% — 42% — 31%
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 362 (LV) ± 4.4% 10% 2% 21% 16%[ag] 53%
Targoz Market Research[137][C] February 20–22, 2026 471 (RV) ± 4.4% 23% — 31% 2%[ah] 44%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[139] January 8–13, 2026 400 (RV) ± 5.0% 19% — 23% — 58%
Public Policy Polling (D)[202][I] December 2–3, 2025 616 (LV) — 22% — 22% — 56%
Close
Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Jason
Pizzo		 Daniella Levine
Cava		 Gwen
Graham		 David
Jolly		 Lauren
Book		 Angie
Nixon		 Shevrin
Jones		 Fentrice
Driskell		 Undecided
Targoz Market Research[152][153][C] May 5–7, 2025 396 (RV) — — 32% 13% 10% 7% 6% 4% 7% 21%
Targoz Market Research[152][154][C] April 15–22, 2025 464 (RV) — 41% 15% 5% 7% 4% 4% 2% 1% 21%
Close

Results

County results
  Jolly
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Congressional district results
  Jolly
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Jolly 761,558 61.0
Democratic Dayna Marie Foster 189,205 15.1
Democratic Dotie Joseph 119,825 9.6
Democratic Evelyn Castillo-Bach 96,581 7.7
Democratic Thomas Eloy Fernandez 47,261 3.8
Democratic Stephann Norman 34,922 2.8
Total votes 1,249,352 100.0
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Independent and third-party candidates

Independent candidates

Qualified

Write-in

Withdrew

  • Desmond Meade, voting rights activist[205]

Declined

Libertarian Party

Qualified

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[210] Likely R September 17, 2026
Fox News[211] Solid R July 23, 2026
Inside Elections[212] Lean R September 17, 2026
RealClearPolitics[213] Tossup September 19, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[214] Lean R September 22, 2026
Silver Bulletin[215] Lean R September 13, 2026
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Post-primary endorsements

Byron Donalds (R)
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Newspapers
David Jolly (D)
U.S. representatives
Party officials
State legislators
Local officials
Individuals
  • Bobby Williams, activist and former gubernatorial candidate (Republican)[226]
Organizations

Polling

Aggregate polls
More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Byron
Donalds (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Other/
Undecided[ai]		 Margin
Decision Desk HQ[228] through September 17, 2026 September 18, 2026 43.9% 45.3% 10.8% Jolly +1.4%
Race to the WH[229] through September 17, 2026 September 18, 2026 44.7% 42.4% 12.9% Donalds +2.3%
RealClearPolitics[230] March 29 – September 17, 2026 September 19, 2026 44.7% 41.0% 14.3% Donalds +3.7%
Silver Bulletin[215] through September 17, 2026 September 18, 2026 44.5% 43.5% 12.0% Donalds +1.0%
Average 44.5% 43.1% 12.4% Donalds +1.4%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Byron
Donalds (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Other Undecided
St. Pete Polls[231][J] September 15–17, 2026 913 (LV) ± 3.2% 44% 43% 4%[aj] 9%
Change Research (D)[232][F] September 7–9, 2026 1,107 (LV) ± 2.8% 44% 47% 1%[ak] 7%
August 18, 2026 Primary elections
Hart Research Associates (D)[233][K] August 10–13, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 46% — 9%
Targoz Market Research[121][C] July 20–26, 2026 1,026 (LV) — 45% 38% — 17%
1,338 (RV) ± 2.62% 40% 36% — 24%
University of North Florida[234] July 8–17, 2026 848 (LV) ± 3.8% 46% 41% 7%[al] 6%
Change Research (D)[235] July 9–11, 2026 1,348 (RV) ± 2.8% 37% 37% 11%[am] 16%
40% 41% 7%[an] 12%
Change Research (D)[129][236][F] May 13–16, 2026 1,593 (LV) ± 2.3% 42% 46% 4%[ao] 8%
2,070 (RV) 43% 41% 6%[ap] 10%
Cherry Communications (R)[237][L] May 1–9, 2026 604 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 39% — 14%
Stetson University[238] March 15 – April 13, 2026 848 (LV) ± 4.1% 47% 40% — 7%
Echelon Insights[239][M] April 3–9, 2026 406 (LV) ± 6.0% 49% 43% — 8%
MDW Communications (D)[240][N] March 27 – April 3, 2026 1,834 (LV) ± 2.0% 41% 41% — 18%
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 1,165 (LV) ± 2.8% 44% 39% 2%[aq] 17%
University of North Florida[241] February 21 – March 2, 2026 786 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 36% 5% 17%
Targoz Market Research[137][C] February 13–16, 2026 1,129 (LV) ± 2.8% 41% 36% 6%[ar] 12%
University of North Florida[242] October 15–25, 2025 728 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 34% 3%[as] 18%
Targoz Market Research[147][C] September 16–18, 2025 1,118 (RV) ± 2.8% 36% 32% 4%[at] 28%
Bendixen & Amandi International (D)[243][O] September 7–9, 2025 631 (LV) ± 4.0% 40% 41% — 19%
AIF Center (R)[244] August 25–27, 2025 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 49% 41% — 11%
Victory Insights (R)[245] June 7–10, 2025 600 (LV) ± 2.8% 37% 31% — 32%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Jay Collins vs. David Jolly

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Jay
Collins (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Other Undecided
Targoz Market Research[121][C] July 20–26, 2026 1,027 (LV) — 44% 39% — 17%
1,332 (RV) ± 2.62% 40% 37% — 23%
Close

James Fishback vs. David Jolly

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 James
Fishback (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Undecided
Keystone Analytics[132] March 27– April 6, 2026 795 (LV) ± 3.5% 44% 40% 16%
Close

Paul Renner vs. David Jolly

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Paul
Renner (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Other Undecided
Targoz Market Research[147][C] September 16–18, 2025 1,123 (RV) ± 2.8% 34% 33% 5%[au] 28%
Bendixen & Amandi International (D)[243][O] September 7–9, 2025 631 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 40% — 18%
Close

Byron Donalds vs. Jerry Demings

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Byron
Donalds (R)		 Jerry
Demings (D)		 Other Undecided
Change Research (D)[129][236][F] May 13–16, 2026 1,593 (LV) ± 2.3% 42% 46% 4%[ao] 8%
2,070 (RV) 43% 40% 6%[av] 12%
Cherry Communications (R)[237][L] May 1–9, 2026 604 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 39% — 13%
Stetson University[238] March 15 – April 13, 2026 848 (LV) ± 4.1% 46% 42% — 7%
Echelon Insights[239][M] April 3–9, 2026 406 (LV) ± 6.0% 48% 44% — 8%
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 1,165 (LV) ± 2.8% 45% 36% 2%[aq] 19%
University of North Florida[241] February 21 – March 2, 2026 786 (LV) ± 4.0% 43% 36% 5% 16%
University of North Florida[242] October 15–25, 2025 728 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 33% 5%[aw] 17%
Close

Byron Donalds vs. Daniella Levine Cava vs. Jason Pizzo

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Byron
Donalds (R)		 Daniella Levine
Cava (D)		 Jason
Pizzo (I)		 Undecided
Targoz Market Research[152][153][C] May 5–7, 2025 1,200 (RV) ± 2.8% 38% 34% 5% 23%
Close

Casey DeSantis vs. David Jolly

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Casey
DeSantis (R)		 David
Jolly (D)		 Other Undecided
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 1,165 (LV) ± 2.8% 39% 40% 3%[ax] 19%
University of North Florida[242] October 15–25, 2025 728 (LV) ± 4.3% 47% 34% 5%[aw] 14%
Close

Casey DeSantis vs. Jerry Demings

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Casey
DeSantis (R)		 Jerry
Demings (D)		 Other Undecided
Emerson College[134] March 29–31, 2026 1,165 (LV) ± 2.8% 41% 39% 3%[ax] 17%
University of North Florida[242] October 15–25, 2025 728 (LV) ± 4.3% 47% 36% 6%[ay] 11%
Close

Casey DeSantis vs. Daniella Levine Cava vs. Jason Pizzo

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Casey
DeSantis (R)		 Daniella Levine
Cava (D)		 Jason
Pizzo (I)		 Undecided
Targoz Market Research[152][153][C] May 5–7, 2025 1,200 (RV) ± 2.8% 39% 35% 8% 18%
Close

Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[j]		 Margin
of error		 Generic
Republican		 Generic
Democrat		 Undecided
Cygnal (R)[246][P] August 25–27, 2025 1,000 (LV) ± 3.1% 51% 38% 11%
Cygnal (R)[247] October 26–28, 2024 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 41% 11%
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2026 Florida gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Byron Donalds
Bryan Avila
Democratic David Jolly
Gwen Graham
Libertarian Scott Eckhard Jewett
Nicole Skelly
Independent Charles Burkett
Ruben A. Coto
Independent Frank J. Russo
Rachel Rodriguez
Independent Moliere Dimanche
Benjiman Rojas
Independent Dean Ocean Abrams
Joe Van Victor
Independent Jeffrey Peter Datto
Juan Santana
Write-in
Total votes 100.0% N/A
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    P. B. S. Pinchback, the first Black governor of a state, was also the first black Republican to serve as Governor of a U.S. state, when he briefly served as Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction. However, Pinchback was never elected governor, as he was appointed to the position after the previous Governor, Henry Clay Warmoth, was removed from office.
  2. [b]
  3. [c]
  4. [d]
    Declined to participate
  5. [e]
    Declined to participate
  6. [f]
    Declined to participate
  7. [g]
    Declined to participate
  8. [h]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  9. [i]
    Bobby Williams with 5.0%; Rachel Rodriguez and Jim Holcomb with 1.0%
  10. [j]
    Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  11. [k]
    Rachel Rodriguez, Arthur Joseph McCaffrey, Jim Holcomb, and Daniel Nokovich with 1%
  12. [l]
    "Another candidate" with 5%
  13. [m]
    Bobby Williams with 3%
  14. [n]
    Bobby Williams with 3%
  15. [o]
    "Would not vote" with 5%
  16. [p]
    "Someone else" with 4%
  17. [q]
    Bobby Williams with 1%; Charles Burkett with <1%
  18. [r]
    Casey DeSantis with 24%; "Someone else" & "Wouldn't vote" with 2%
  19. [s]
    Casey DeSantis with 26%
  20. [t]
    Jay Collins & James Fishback with 4%; Paul Renner with 2%; Jay Collins with 2%; Charles Burkett & Bobby Williams with 1%
  21. [u]
    Paul Renner with 7%; Jay Collins with 2%
  22. [v]
    "Someone else" with 7%; "Wouldn't vote" with 2%; "Refused" with 1%
  23. [w]
    Paul Renner with 2%
  24. [x]
    Charles Burkett with 3%; Ashton Hayward with 1%
  25. [y]
    "Someone else" with 7%
  26. [z]
    "Another candidate" with 20%
  27. [aa]
    "Someone else" with 14%
  28. [ab]
    "Someone else" with 6%
  29. [ac]
  30. [ad]
    Thomas Fernandez with 4%; Evelyn Castillo-Bach with 3%
  31. [ae]
    Thomas Fernandez with 4%; Evelyn Castillo-Bach with 3%
  32. [af]
    Dotie Joseph at 6%; "Would not vote" at 2%
  33. [ag]
    Evelyn Castillo-Bach with 3%; Kevin Cichowski, Thomas Fernandez, Kenneth Norman, Donald Peterson, and Jessica Vernekar with 2%; Faith Antonio, Richard Dembinsky, Charles Lewis, and Bill Slater with 1%
  34. [ah]
    "I would not vote" with 2%
  35. [ai]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  36. [aj]
    "Someone else" with 4%
  37. [ak]
  38. [al]
    "Someone else" with 5%; "Wouldn't vote" with 2%
  39. [am]
    "Would not Vote" with 6%; Desmond Meade (I) with 5%
  40. [an]
    "Would not Vote" with 7%
  41. [ao]
    "Would not vote" with 4%
  42. [ap]
    "Would not vote" with 6%
  43. [aq]
    "Someone else" with 2%
  44. [ar]
    Jason Pizzo (I) with 6%
  45. [as]
    "Someone else", "Wouldn't vote", and "Refusal" with 1%
  46. [at]
    Jason Pizzo (I) with 4%
  47. [au]
    Jason Pizzo (I) with 5%
  48. [av]
    "Would not vote" with 5%
  49. [aw]
    "Someone else" and "Wouldn't vote" with 2%; "Refusal" with 1%
  50. [ax]
    "Someone else" with 3%
  51. [ay]
    "Someone else", "Wouldn't vote", and "Refusal" with 2%

Partisan clients

  1. [A]
    Poll sponsored by Collins' campaign.
  2. [B]
    Poll sponsored by American First Insight
  3. [C]
    Poll sponsored by the James Madison Institute, a conservative think tank
  4. [D]
    Poll sponsored by Donalds' campaign
  5. [E]
    Poll sponsored by the Associated Industries of Florida
  6. [F]
    Poll commissioned by Freedom Project USA
  7. [G]
    Poll sponsored by Florida Firefighters, which supports Collins[142]
  8. [H]
    Poll sponsored by Florida Politics
  9. [I]
    Poll sponsored by Moving Florida Forward, which supports Demings.[203]
  10. [J]
    Poll sponsored by Florida Politics
  11. [K]
    Poll sponsored by the Democratic Governors Association
  12. [L]
    Poll sponsored by the Florida Chamber of Commerce
  13. [M]
    Poll commissioned by NetChoice
  14. [N]
    Poll sponsored by Edge Communications
  15. [O]
    Poll sponsored by Jolly's campaign
  16. [P]
    Poll sponsored by Conservatives for Clean Energy

References

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