Florida Governor Race Heats Up
Florida’s political battlefield is already on fire.
With Governor Ron DeSantis term-limited, the race to replace him is drawing major national attention — and now, another well-known Democrat is jumping into the fray.
🔵 Democrat Mayor Jerry Demings Joins the Race
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, 66, has officially filed paperwork to run for Florida governor, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
His entry sets up a heated Democratic primary against former Congressman David Jolly, a onetime Republican who broke from the GOP over his opposition to President Donald Trump.
Demings is expected to hold a rally in Orlando this Thursday to formally launch his campaign. His team has not yet released specific policy plans — a detail that already has critics asking what he truly stands for.
🏛 A Familiar Florida Political Family
Demings has deep roots in Central Florida politics.
He previously served as Orlando’s police chief, Orange County sheriff, and later became mayor of Orange County, overseeing the tourism-heavy Orlando area.
Supporters praise his experience, but critics point out rising crime rates, higher taxes, and growing cost-of-living pressures under his leadership.
His wife, Val Demings, is also a prominent Democrat who served in Congress and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022 — losing by a double-digit margin despite heavy national backing from liberal groups.
Together, the Demings couple has become one of the most recognizable Democrat power pairs in the state — but their brand of politics hasn’t been able to win statewide.
⚖️ Jolly’s Party Switch Raises Eyebrows
Demings’ main opponent, David Jolly, represented Florida in the U.S. House from 2014 to 2017.
After leaving Congress, Jolly left the Republican Party, criticizing President Trump and rebranding himself as a “centrist.”
Many Democrats, however, remain wary of his late political conversion — questioning whether his loyalty lies more with political survival than party values.
Jolly’s campaign quickly responded to Demings’ entry, announcing an expanded team that includes state Sen. Tina Polsky and attorney Sean Pittman, signaling a high-stakes Democrat battle ahead.
🔴 Republicans Confident in Strong Field
The Republican Governors Association wasted no time firing back at the Democrat lineup, saying Democrats “are flailing to find a candidate who’s been a Democrat for more than five minutes.”
On the GOP side, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) leads most internal polls as the America First favorite.
He’s joined by potential contenders like former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, both considered strong conservative voices.
Analysts say the GOP remains firmly in control of Florida’s political landscape after back-to-back Republican landslides under President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis.
🗳 The 2026 Election: Florida Remains the Big Prize
The 2026 Florida governor’s race marks the first open contest in eight years — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
With Florida now viewed as the crown jewel of conservative success, Republicans are determined to keep the state red and continue Trump’s America First legacy.
Meanwhile, Democrats face the same challenge they’ve struggled with for years: convincing voters in a booming, freedom-focused Florida to embrace more taxes, more regulation, and more Washington interference.
