Who’s running for Florida governor in 2026? We check in on the race.

In January, when we ran through the list of potential 2026 contenders, some major figures were still keeping quiet.

Six months later, the race has come into sharper focus. A well-known Democrat has announced a run. Another Dem dramatically left the party, then proclaimed he would run for governor as an independent. President Donald Trump endorsed a Republican. That Republican was not first lady Casey DeSantis, who remains a wild card. Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is an even wilder card.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited, meaning he can’t run again next November.

Here‘s an update on the major contenders to replace him — as well as who says they’re staying out of the fray.

Democrats

Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A former Republican who represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District in Congress is the Democratic front-runner for governor.

No, we’re not talking about Charlie Crist. Earlier this month, Jolly, who represented Pinellas County in Congress from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican, became the first major Democrat to enter the race.

As a Dem running in a state long dominated by Republicans, Jolly is sure to face questions about the viability of any non-Republican candidate. The similarities to Crist, whom DeSantis steamrolled by 19 points in 2022, might make questions about Jolly’s viability all the more relevant.

In an interview, Jolly said Democrats can win in 2026. He’s convinced he can piece together a winning coalition because of his focus on Florida’s affordability crisis.

“This is a change environment,” Jolly said. “I feel very good about a contrast of change versus more of the same.”

Jolly has pointed to a poll that showed him five points behind the leading Republican candidate as evidence of the strength of his candidacy. (More on that leading Republican in a bit.)

That poll, released earlier this month by Victory Insights, showed that most voters haven’t heard of either the leading Democrat or Republican — and that some 31% of voters are undecided.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz

Moskowitz, a Broward-area U.S. representative, has said he’s interested in a run. But it’s unclear whether he’ll jump in the 2026 pack. A spokesperson didn’t respond to requests for comment.

If he runs for another term in Congress, he’s got a potentially tough reelection fight. He’s won each of his races by about five points, and Republicans have said they plan to target his seat this cycle.

State Sen. Shevrin Jones

Jones, a state senator from Miami Gardens, was rumored to be considering a run for governor. But in text to the Tampa Bay Times, he put those rumors to bed.

“From what I can see, the field seems to be forming around David Jolly — and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with him,” Jones wrote. “I’m looking forward to hearing more about his vision for Florida. He’s a solid guy.”

Jones urged Democrats to unify around one candidate, saying the party cannot afford a costly primary.

Florida Democratic Party Chairperson Nikki Fried

Fried, the chairperson of the Florida Democratic Party, is the last person to have been elected statewide as a Democrat. But she said she’s not seeking a run for governor in 2026.

In a text message, Fried said she’s instead working to improve Democratic winning chances by strengthening the party’s organizing infrastructure.

Fried said she’s unsure whether there will be a competitive Democratic primary.

No-party affiliated

State Sen. Jason Pizzo

Until late April, Pizzo was the Democratic leader in the state Senate. But in a floor speech during the scheduled closing days of session, he renounced that title and the party, calling on his colleagues to pick a new leader.

“The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,” said Pizzo, of Hollywood. “There are good people that can resuscitate it. But they don’t want it to be me. That’s not convenient, that’s not cool.”

Then, in May, Pizzo announced plans to mount an independent bid for governor. As of late 2023, his net worth was some $59 million, meaning he could mount a serious challenge if he decided to self-fund his candidacy.

Pizzo has yet to file to run. He did not respond to requests for comment.

Attorney John Morgan

Morgan, the well-known personal injury attorney and architect of the Morgan & Morgan law firm, keeps making noise like he wants to run for governor as a third-party candidate. If he were to run, he could pour lots of his own money into the race, and many voters know who he is.

But he’s talked about entering the political realm before and never done so. Morgan did not respond to requests for comment.

Republicans

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds

By essentially every metric, the current front-runner in the governor’s race is U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

Trump endorsed Donalds, who represents parts of Collier and Lee counties, in February. Trump’s has proven to be the most valuable endorsement for a Republican in politics; his backing propelled DeSantis to the Governor’s Mansion in 2018.

A political committee supporting Donalds raked in some $11.6 million in a little more than a month after he filed. Jeff Yass, the billionaire school choice advocate, threw down $5 million to help him.

“Our campaign is growing stronger by the day. Byron Donalds is committed to tackling the issues Floridians care about most — lowering the cost of living, fighting illegal immigration, creating jobs, improving our schools and preserving our quality of life for future generations,” said Ryan Smith, Donalds’ chief campaign strategist, in a statement.

Donalds is campaigning in earnest. In May, he drew a crowd of more than 100 outside Largo’s Conservative Grounds coffee shop. In a fiery speech, he promised to build on what he called the successes of Ron DeSantis.

“Florida will continue to be the free state of Florida,” Donalds said to cheers. “Florida will be the continued home of the MAGA movement.”

With Jolly entering the race, Donalds’ campaign is revving up. With the summer legislative recess coming in Washington, Donalds will be able to campaign and raise money around the clock.

He could also get a boost from the fact that the legislative session is now over. Lobbyists and other political players occupied by Tallahassee drama might now be more available to tune into 2026. His second-quarter fundraising numbers will be something to monitor.

First Lady Casey DeSantis

It’s been a tumultuous few months for Florida’s first lady.

Soon after Trump endorsed Donalds, Gov. DeSantis declined to do the same. Instead, he talked up the electoral prospects of his wife, Casey DeSantis, who seemed to be gearing up for a run.

Then, Casey DeSantis’ signature initiative became the subject of an inquiry by state House lawmakers. Florida reporters found that last year, a Hope Florida-associated charity steered tens of millions of dollars from a settlement with a Medicaid contractor to organizations that then sent money to a political committee run by Gov. DeSantis’ then-chief of staff. Hope Florida drew weeks of headlines, and there’s an open criminal investigation related to the charity.

Republicans and Democrats alike in the Legislature have criticized Hope Florida in recent months — much to the evident annoyance of the DeSantises. The governor’s circle speculated that by criticizing Hope Florida, Republicans were hoping to diminish Casey DeSantis’ future political prospects.

The signals from the DeSantis camp have become difficult to discern. Some observers maintain Casey DeSantis is interested in a run; others say she’s cooling on the idea. She’d be a formidable candidate with easy access to many of DeSantis’ wealthy donors should she decide to run.

Whether she does or not, there’s speculation that a non-Donalds candidate aligned with DeSantis will seek the job. Whether that’s Casey DeSantis, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Tampa state Sen. Jay Collins or someone else is unclear.

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz

Since he told the Times in January that he’s considering a run, Gaetz has been mum about his future.

He has weighed in on some of the gubernatorial drama on X. In May, he posted that Casey DeSantis might be the “instant front-runner” should she decide to run.

But Gaetz, who currently hosts a cable news program, has also criticized the way the DeSantises handled the Hope Florida scandal.

Gaetz may not be Trump’s endorsed gubernatorial candidate, but Trump is clearly a fan. The president initially picked Gaetz to be U.S. attorney general. (The nomination fell through amid allegations that Gaetz had sex with an underage girl; Gaetz denies this.)

Regardless, Gaetz entering the governor’s race — or the race for Florida attorney general, for that matter — would make quite a splash.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson

Just like the last time we wrote this story, Simpson still is sitting on gobs of money. Four political committees he runs control a combined total of more than $31 million.

He’s yet to file for reelection in the race for agriculture commissioner. Perhaps he could eye a run for governor. A political spokesperson didn’t respond to requests for comment.