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Let the campaign begin.
Come to think of it, it’s already started and Florida’s gubernatorial race is no exception.
Current Gov. Ron DeSantis will not be able to run again in 2026 due to term limits and more than 20 candidates have filed with the Florida Division of Elections to replace him in the governor’s mansion in the November 2026 election.
The most recent candidate is former House Speaker Paul Renner, who filed to run this morning, Sept. 3.
Others have announced they intend to run but haven’t yet filed the required paperwork.
Here’s a breakdown of who’s running for Florida governor.
Countdown to Florida general election 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 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.
27 candidates have filed to run for Florida governor in 2026
As of Sept. 3, 27 candidates have filed to run for Florida’s governor in 2026, according to the Florida Department of Elections. The most recent candidate, Renner, filed Wednesday morning. By party, the candidates are:
Republican
Democrat
No party affiliation
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:
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Primary election
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Deadline to register or change party affiliation: July 20, 2026
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Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: Aug. 6, 2026
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Early voting mandatory period: Aug. 8-15, 2026
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Election Day: Aug. 18, 2026
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General election
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Deadline to register: Oct. 5, 2026
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Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: Oct. 22, 2026
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Early voting mandatory period: Oct. 24-31, 2026
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Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026
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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:
What is the party breakdown of registered voters in Florida?
As of July 31, 2025, the Florida Division of Elections said the breakdown by party of active registered voters in the state is:
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No party affiliation: 3,415,965
➤ See the breakdown by party in each Florida county
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.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida governor race in 2026 election to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis
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