Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has officially filed to run for governor of Florida, entering the 2026 race as a Democratic candidate, according to a report published by Politico.
Demings, who has served as mayor since 2018, submitted his qualifying paperwork on Oct. 31, 2025 and becomes the latest Democrat to join the field, which includes former congressman David Jolly. The Politico report indicates that Demings plans to formally launch his campaign at an upcoming rally in Orlando. His campaign is expected to focus on economic opportunity, public safety, and affordability.
Florida’s gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 2026, with party primaries set for August 2026.
In response to the news, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) issued a press release in which the organization referred to Demings’ candidacy as “the perfect addition to a primary field with no meaningful accomplishments beyond self-promotion.”
The RGA added, “Florida Democrats are clearly unimpressed with David Jolly’s Charlie Crist impersonation and find themselves flailing to find a candidate for governor who has been a Democrat for more than five minutes. So, into this talentless chasm of despair steps the one man who wants to run for literally anything that isn’t his current job: Jerry Demings.”