TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Democratic Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is the latest candidate to file and publicly announce his candidacy for Florida governor. He joins nearly 30 candidates vying for the governor’s mansion.
Mr. Demings is one of the few prominent politicians in a crowded field. He previously served as Orange County sheriff and Orlando police chief.
“There’s going to be a new sheriff in town,” Demings said.
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The mayor is relying on his seven-year career in Orange County government leadership and decades of law enforcement experience to win support from voters.
“I don’t think there’s another candidate who can say they’ve worked at the same level as me at the local level,” Demings said.
Mr. Demings and Gov. Ron DeSantis recently clashed publicly over the local role in immigration enforcement in July.
“I believe in legal immigration, but I also believe that enforcement should be done in accordance with the law and in a humane manner,” Demings said.
Demings ultimately signed an amended 287(g) agreement requiring local correctional officers to transfer immigrant detainees to ICE detention centers.
“I chose to join the fight to change the imbalance of power and influence in the state of Florida,” Demings said.
The main Democratic opponent is former Rep. David Jolly.
“While I welcome Demings’ participation in the race for mayor, the issues at hand remain the same for me,” Jolly said. “When I entered this race four months ago, I knew my job was to reach all voters. Yes, that includes the Democratic primary, but I’m also talking about independents and Republicans.”
Potential Republican candidates include Congressman Byron Donald, who is backed by President Trump, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.
“Jerry Demings’ plan for Florida is the same as (mayor-elect) Zoran Mamdani’s plan for New York: expand government and raise taxes,” Donald said.
Demings did not respond directly to Donald, but said the “other side” was scared after the mayor announced his candidacy.
Renner continues to campaign as one of the key figures who contributed to Florida’s Republican Party’s rise through policy and political involvement. But DeSantis declined to endorse him.
“His legacy is inseparable from what I have done as one of the architects of what we today call the ‘Free State of Florida,’ and I am confident that ultimately I will have his support,” Renner said.
The mayor is married to Val Demings, who served as Orlando Police Chief, Congressman, and ran for Florida State Senate.
