2026 florida gubernatorial election: trending now

The Associated Press (AP)2026 Florida gubernatorial electionByron Donalds (GOP) leads. The AP hasn’t called this race. 96.87% votes counted. Preliminary results.Byron DonaldsRepublican Party50.0%4,033,046 votesDavid JollyDemocratic Party48.8%3,938,015 votesScott Eckhard JewettLibertarian Party0.5%36,728 votesFrank J. RussoIndependent0.3%22,554 votesCharles BurkettIndependent0.2%14,788 votesShow moreUpdated 04:56 AM

2026 Florida Gubernatorial Election: Trending News, Candidates, and Latest Updates

The 2026 Florida gubernatorial election is currently dominating national headlines as voters determine who will succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. As one of the highest-profile state leadership contests in the country, the race serves as a crucial barometer for Florida’s political alignment heading into the next legislative cycle.

Key Candidates on the Ballot

• Byron Donalds (Republican Party): U.S. Representative Byron Donalds leads the Republican ticket, campaigning on deregulation, state tax competitiveness, and maintaining conservative executive leadership.

• David Jolly (Democratic Party): Former U.S. Representative David Jolly heads the Democratic slate, building a broad coalition focused on bipartisan governance, public school investments, and middle-class economic relief.

• Third-Party & Independent Contenders: The general election ballot also includes Libertarian candidate Scott Eckhard Jewett alongside independent candidates Dean Ocean Abrams, Charles Burkett, Frank J. Russo, Jeffrey Peter Datto, and Moliere Dimanche.

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Trending Issues Driving Voter Turnout

Search volume and voter engagement throughout the campaign have centered around three defining platform issues:

1. Property Insurance & Cost of Living: High homeowner insurance premiums and housing affordability across major metro areas remain top priorities for Florida residents.

2. Economic Growth & Infrastructure: Proposals addressing state infrastructure resilience, job creation, and tax reform in rapidly expanding regions.

3. Executive Governance: The choice between continuing Florida’s recent conservative governing approach under Donalds or electing Jolly to steer the state’s executive branch toward the center.

Current Election Status

With polls closed across Florida, tabulated ballots show a competitive contest. Updates and county-level certifications continue to be processed through the Florida Division of Elections and verified news reporting services.