The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated November 6, 2026. The result recorded below is a race call by a news organization, not a certified total; the state election office certifies the official count.
Result
Byron Donalds (R) defeated David Jolly (D). Florida was one of the governorships Republicans held on a night when Democrats won a majority nationally. The state set certification for November 17, 2026, which is earlier than most states.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Winner | Byron Donalds (R) |
| Called by | Called on election night, November 3, 2026 |
| Outcome | Republican hold |
A race call is a projection, not a certified total. County canvasses and state certification follow, as the certification calendar explains. The full map is on the governor results page.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Governor of Florida, four-year term |
| Candidates | Byron Donalds (R) and David Jolly (D) |
| Incumbent | Ron DeSantis (R), term-limited |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
| Other statewide offices | Attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner are elected separately |
| All races | 2026 governor races hub |
| Voting guide | How to vote in Florida |
| Race rating | See Cook, Sabato, and DDHQ for current ratings and dates |
| Official results | Florida Division of Elections |
What the open seat decides
Florida's governor shares power with a separately elected Cabinet, so the office is less dominant than California's. The governor still appoints agency heads, signs the budget, suspends local officials, and leads the state's response to hurricanes. In a state that adds residents faster than almost any other, land use, water, and insurance are the questions that reach the governor's desk.
Property insurance is the defining state issue of this campaign. Several insurers have failed or withdrawn from Florida, premiums have risen faster than incomes, and the state-backed insurer has grown into one of the largest in the country. Hurricane recovery, rebuilding rules, and the cost of coverage connect that problem to growth, which is the second theme: new residents keep arriving, and the infrastructure, school, and water decisions that follow are made partly at the state level.
Both candidates are also running in a state that has become a laboratory for national policy. Florida has changed its election rules, its school curricula, and its immigration enforcement posture over the past several years, and the next governor will decide how much of that agenda continues.
Who is running
Byron Donalds (Republican). Donalds represents a southwest Florida district in the U.S. House and has been a prominent voice in the House Republican conference, according to his congressional biography. He entered the governor's race with the advantage of a state party that has won the last several statewide contests.
David Jolly (Democratic). Jolly represented a Pinellas County district in the U.S. House and later ran for the Senate, according to his congressional biography. He has campaigned as a check on one-party control in Tallahassee.
Other candidates. Florida has a write-in and third-party lane, and the division of elections publishes the full ballot lineup for each county. The Florida Division of Elections is the authoritative list.
Polls and ratings
We do not repeat a poll number without a source and a date. Statewide samples in Florida carry margins of error of several points, and the state's recent polling misses are a reason to read trackers rather than single surveys:
- 270toWin's 2026 governor map — state-by-state polling and ratings.
- RealClearPolitics — a rolling average of published Florida surveys.
- Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball — race ratings with dates.
Ratings are judgments about the state of a race, and the raters update on different schedules. Check the date before you rely on one.
The 2028 angle
Florida voted Republican in the last three presidential elections and now sends a Republican majority to Congress, so the state is no longer the pure battleground it was in 2000 or 2012. That makes the governor's office a national platform rather than a swing-state laboratory: the winner will be part of the party's 2028 conversation, and the state's rules on elections and schools will be watched nationally.
How to vote in Florida
Florida's registration deadline for the general election has passed. The state allows no-excuse absentee voting, and early voting runs for roughly eight to twelve days before Election Day, with hours set by county supervisors. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 3.
Check your registration and mail ballot status with your county supervisor of elections, listed through the Florida Division of Elections. Our Florida voting guide covers ID rules and the mail ballot deadlines.
What to watch
- Insurance and the cost of living. It is the issue both campaigns are asked about first, and the one with the clearest state-level levers.
- Turnout in the I-4 corridor. Hillsborough, Pinellas, Orange, and Polk counties decide statewide margins more often than any other region.
- The Cabinet races. A governor governing with an opposing party's Cabinet would be a different office than one with a same-party Cabinet.
Results
Results were reported after polls closed on November 3, 2026. County canvassing boards report to the state, and Florida's recount rules trigger automatically when a margin is close enough. Our results hub explains how race calls are made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running for governor of Florida in 2026?
Byron Donalds (R) and David Jolly (D) are the major-party candidates, according to late-October reporting. The Florida Division of Elections publishes the certified ballot.
Is Ron DeSantis running again?
No. DeSantis was elected in 2018 and 2022 and is term-limited, so the seat is open.
Why does property insurance dominate Florida politics?
Several insurers have failed or left the state, premiums have risen sharply, and the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance has absorbed hundreds of thousands of policies. The governor appoints the insurance regulator and signs the legislation that sets the rules.
When is Election Day in Florida?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and early voting runs through the weekend before.
Where can I find polls for the Florida governor race?
Use a tracker that dates its averages, such as 270toWin or RealClearPolitics, and check the sponsor and field dates of any individual poll.
Sources
- 270toWin: 2026 governor elections — race list, polling, and ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Florida Division of Elections — registration, ballot, and results. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Cook Political Report — race ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Sabato's Crystal Ball — race ratings. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Associated Press — Florida coverage and race calls. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- National Conference of State Legislatures — state election rules. Accessed October 28, 2026.
Last updated October 28, 2026. The candidate field is based on late-October reporting and should be re-checked against the certified ballot.