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Governor of Florida

Statewide — all of Florida

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

  • Open seat: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term.[1]
  • Republican primary (Aug. 18, 2026): U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won with 47.8% of the vote, ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (25.2%), James Fishback (10.5%) and former House Speaker Paul Renner (8.5%).[1]
  • Democratic primary (Aug. 18, 2026): former U.S. Rep. David Jolly won with 61.0%, ahead of Dayna Marie Foster (15.1%) and state Rep. Dotie Joseph (9.6%).[1]
  • Each gubernatorial candidate on the ballot is listed with a lieutenant governor running mate.[15]

On the ballot · 8 candidates

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    Supports[6]

    Says Florida should codify the Roe/Casey framework if Congress does not restore it federally.

  • Scott Jewett
    —
  • Charles Burkett
    In their own words[17]
    “Affirm and codify "My Body, My Choice."”

    In a list of health care proposals on his campaign website

  • Frank J. Russo
    —
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    Supports[6]

    Calls for banning assault-weapon sales, universal background checks, exploring licensing, and preserving and expanding red flag laws.

  • Scott Jewett
    Opposes[16]

    His campaign site says he opposes restrictions on weapons, ammunition and accessories and supports constitutional and open carry.

  • Charles Burkett
    —
  • Frank J. Russo
    —
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Byron Donalds
    Supports[2]

    Campaign plan calls for requiring E-Verify, cutting state funds that encourage illegal immigration, and coordinating state and local police with federal authorities to deport noncitizens who commit crimes.

  • David Jolly
    —
  • Scott Jewett
    In their own words[16]
    “Focus enforcement on criminals, traffickers, and real security threats.”

    On his campaign website

  • Charles Burkett
    —
  • Frank J. Russo
    In their own words[20]
    “prioritize state resources toward removing people who commit violent crimes and pose genuine threats to public safety”

    On his campaign website

  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    —
  • Scott Jewett
    In their own words[16]
    “Cut the barriers. Let builders build. Let families stay.”

    On his campaign website

  • Charles Burkett
    Opposes[17]

    His campaign site calls for repealing the Live Local Act, which preempts local zoning limits on some affordable housing, and for stopping what it calls over-densification.

  • Frank J. Russo
    In their own words[19]
    “Frank wants to work with developers and the private sector to build more housing”

    On his campaign website (third-person text)

  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    In their own words[18]
    “I believe in the a program wherein the state acquires these properties and grant these properties for homesteading to eligible Floridians.”

    In the WKMG ClickOrlando voter guide

  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    —
  • Scott Jewett
    —
  • Charles Burkett
    —
  • Frank J. Russo
    In their own words[19]
    “apply a 9.9% consumption state tax only to spending above $1 million”
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    Supports[6]

    Calls for Florida to expand Medicaid.

  • Scott Jewett
    —
  • Charles Burkett
    —
  • Frank J. Russo
    —
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Byron Donalds
    —
  • David Jolly
    Supports[6]

    Says Florida should accept climate science, invest in resiliency, and require greater integration of clean energy in public utilities.

  • Scott Jewett
    —
  • Charles Burkett
    —
  • Frank J. Russo
    —
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    —
  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Byron Donalds
    Supports[3]

    Campaign education plan includes letting education money follow the student so parents can choose a school.

  • David Jolly
    Mixed[6]

    Calls for increased funding for public schools and for holding voucher schools to public-school standards, and says the voucher program should be means-tested.

  • Scott Jewett
    Supports[16]

    His campaign site says funding should follow the student to a public, charter, private or home school.

  • Charles Burkett
    Supports[18]

    In the WKMG ClickOrlando voter guide he said vouchers and other options should be maintained.

  • Frank J. Russo
    —
  • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
    In their own words[18]
    “I'd actually like to see more funding for home school, but I am concerned about the lack of funding for public schools as well.”

    In the WKMG ClickOrlando voter guide

  • Dean Ocean Abrams
    —
  • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
    —

Research notes & limits

Running mates (Bryan Avila with Donalds; Gwen Graham with Jolly; and the others noted in each summary) are elected jointly and are not listed as separate entries. The slate matches the Florida Division of Elections candidate listing for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election (Donalds, Jolly, Jewett, Burkett, Russo, Dimanche, Abrams, Datto), which also lists write-in candidates Kathy Anderson and Erik Morris; write-ins are not included here. Primary percentages come from the Wikipedia race page; the state's results site could not be loaded. Ballotpedia was blocked by a bot challenge from this environment. Federal roll-call votes were checked against the House Clerk's published records and bill sponsorships against Congress.gov bill-status data; Donalds's Florida House record (2016–2020) was not researched. The independent candidates have no research beyond the ticket listing.

Sources · 47

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  2. 2.Law and Order · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Education · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Healthcare · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Affordability · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Issues: David Jolly's Policy Positions for Florida · David Jolly for Florida · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Roll Call 190, H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), July 3, 2025 · U.S. House Clerk · 2026-10-19 Official record
  8. 8.Roll Call 12, H.R. 28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act), January 14, 2025 · U.S. House Clerk · 2026-10-19 Official record
  9. 9.Roll Call 23, S. 5 (Laken Riley Act), January 22, 2025 · U.S. House Clerk · 2026-10-19 Official record
  10. 10.H.R. 8371 — Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act · Congress.gov · 2026-10-19 Official record
  11. 11.H.R. 9017 — Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026 · Congress.gov · 2026-10-19 Official record
  12. 12.Roll Call 58, H.R. 596 (repeal of the Affordable Care Act), February 3, 2015 · U.S. House Clerk · 2026-10-19 Official record
  13. 13.Roll Call 6, H.R. 3762 (2016 budget reconciliation), January 6, 2016 · U.S. House Clerk · 2026-10-19 Official record
  14. 14.H.R. 4443 — Stop Act · Congress.gov · 2026-10-19 Official record
  15. 15.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  16. 16.The Issues · Scott Jewett for Florida Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  17. 17.Burkett for FL Governor · Charles Burkett for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  18. 18.2026 voter guide: Florida governor's race · WKMG ClickOrlando · 2026-10-19 News report
  19. 19.Affordability · Russo-Rodriguez 2026 · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  20. 20.Immigration · Russo-Rodriguez 2026 · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  21. 21.Byron Donalds · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  22. 22.Law and Order · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  23. 23.Healthcare · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  24. 24.Affordability · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  25. 25.Education · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  26. 26.Byron Donalds for Governor · Byron Donalds for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  27. 27.About Byron · U.S. Representative Byron Donalds · 2026-10-19 Official record
  28. 28.David Jolly · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  29. 29.Issues: David Jolly's Policy Positions for Florida · David Jolly for Florida · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  30. 30.David Jolly for Florida · David Jolly for Florida · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  31. 31.David Jolly · Ballotpedia Reference
  32. 32.About David Jolly · David Jolly for Florida · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  33. 33.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  34. 34.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  35. 35.Scott Jewett · Ballotpedia Reference
  36. 36.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  37. 37.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  38. 38.Former Surfside mayor Charles Burkett in Florida governor's race · WLRN · 2026-05-19 News report
  39. 39.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  40. 40.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  41. 41.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  42. 42.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  43. 43.Moliere Dimanche · Ballotpedia Reference
  44. 44.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  45. 45.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
  46. 46.2026 Florida gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  47. 47.Candidate listing, 2026 General Election · Florida Division of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record