If you think it’s too early to think about the 2026 elections more than a year away, think again.
Candidates have already filed for several Florida offices, and 26 have filed with the Florida Department of Elections, to run for governor. Others have announced they intend to run but haven’t yet filed the required paperwork.
Current Gov. Ron DeSantis will not be able to run again in 2026 due to term limits.
Here’s a breakdown of who’s running for Florida governor and some of the races voters will decide on in 2026.
Why can’t Ron DeSantis run for governor in 2026?
DeSantis was first elected in 2018 and began his term in office on Jan. 8, 2019. He was re-elected by a landslide in 2022.
Florida, like 22 other states, limits governors to two consecutive, four-year terms.
DeSantis will be ineligible to run again in the next Florida gubernatorial election in 2026 due to term limits. Florida governors cannot be elected to three consecutive terms.
DeSantis will leave office in January 2027 but could run for governor again in the future.
26 candidates have filed to run for Florida governor in 2026
As of July 2, 26 candidates have filed to run for Florida’s governor in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Elections. By party, the candidates are:
Republican
- Cruel, Shea
- Donalds, Byron
- Holcomb, Jim
- Imperato, Daniel J
- Mercadante, John Joseph
- Reicherter, Bill
- Succe, Caneste
- Williams Jr, Robert Edward “Bobby”
Democrat
No party affiliation
- Bedi, Surindar Singh
- Dimanche, Moliere
- Evans Sr, Insley Darris Corri
- Gibson, Kyle Chaderwick
- Gillespie, Neil J
- Hylton, Mourice “Mo”
- Klask, Holly
- Wexler, David Wayne Gizmo
Independent
Libertarian Party of Florida
Constitution Party of Florida
What are Florida 2026 election dates?
Here are the key election dates for registration and voting in the 2026 elections:
- Primary election
- Deadline to register or change party affiliation: July 20, 2026
- Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: Aug. 6, 2026
- Early voting mandatory period: Aug. 8-15, 2026
- Election Day: Aug. 18, 2026
- General election
- Deadline to register: Oct. 5, 2026
- Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: Oct. 22, 2026
- Early voting mandatory period: Oct. 24-31, 2026
- Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026
When is the November general election?
The 2026 general election is Nov. 3.
Offices up for election, retention in Florida in 2026
Offices up for election and retention in 2026 include:
- U.S. Senate, one of two seats
- Representative in Congress, all districts
- Governor and lieutenant governor
- Attorney general
- Chief financial officer
- Commissioner of agriculture
- State senator (even-numbered districts)
- State representative (all districts)
- State attorney (20th Judicial Circuit)
- Public defender (20th Judicial Circuit)
- Judicial retention (Nonpartisan)
- Justices, Supreme Court of Florida (only those whose terms expire January 2027)
- Judges, District Courts of Appeal (only those whose terms expire January 2027)
- Circuit Judges (nonpartisan)
- Only those whose terms expire January 2027
- County Court Judges (nonpartisan)
- Only those whose terms expire January 2027
- County offices
- Board of County Commissioners
- School Board
- Other constitutional offices depending on county
- Special district offices
Am I a registered voter in Florida?
Here’s how to check whether you are a registered voter in Florida. Go to voter information lookup at the Florida Department of State.
Need to find your polling place, get a sample ballot (closer to the election date) or check your vote-by-mail ballot), go to the Supervisor of Elections website for your county.
