Florida holds primary election for governor, with open seat after DeSantis is term-limited

Florida holds its primary election on August 18, 2026, for governor and other offices. Ron DeSantis is term-limited and cannot run for a third consecutive term. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds entered the Republican primary on February 25, 2025, as the first major Republican candidate. Other Republican contenders include former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins. Florida''s general election strongly favors Republicans, but the primary is competitive. Democrats view the seat as unlikely to flip given the state''s partisan lean after DeSantis''s 2022 landslide.