18 candidates are running: Arthur Joseph McCaffrey (Republican), Bobby Williams (Republican), Byron Donalds (Republican), Caneste Succe (Republican), Daniel Nokovich (Republican), David Jolly (Democratic), Dayna Marie Foster (Democratic), Dotie Joseph (Democratic), Evelyn Castillo-Bach (Democratic), James Fishback (Republican), James W. Shaw (Republican), Jay Collins (Republican), Jerry Demings (Democratic), Jim Holcomb (Republican), Paul Renner (Republican), Rachel Rodriguez (Republican), Stephann Norman (Democratic), and Thomas Eloy Fernandez (Democratic).

Certified result: Byron Donalds (Republican) and David Jolly (Democratic) advanced to the next round.

Governor

Name: Governor
Start: 2026-08-18
Location: Florida

Result: Advanced — Byron Donalds (Republican), David Jolly (Democratic)

Source: results.elections.myflorida.com

Florida

My vote power: Average

What does this office do?

Signing or vetoing bills that become state law
Proposing the state budget for schools, roads, and health care
Picking who leads state agencies

Affects: AI Regulation, Healthcare Affordability, Environment and Public Health,

Candidates:

Arthur Joseph McCaffrey

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Arthur Joseph McCaffrey is a Republican who qualified for Florida's 2026 primary election for Governor.

Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for

Bobby Williams

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Bobby Williams is a Republican candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 primary election.

Byron Donalds

Advanced

Republican · advanced

Byron Donalds is a Republican 2026 candidate for Governor of Florida, endorsed by President Trump. He represents Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Records: Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for, Data Privacy 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for,

Caneste Succe

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Caneste Succe is a Republican candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 primary election.

Daniel Nokovich

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Daniel Nokovich is a Republican candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 primary election.

David Jolly

Advanced

Democratic · advanced

David Jolly is a Democratic 2026 candidate for Governor of Florida and a former U.S. Representative.

Records: Anti-Corruption 3 for, Environment and Public Health 2 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 against,

Dayna Marie Foster

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Dayna Marie Foster is a South Floridian raised by a single mother and shaped by working-class life. At 19 she began serving through the Broward County Library at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, helping patrons with homework and job applications.

Dotie Joseph

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Dotie Joseph is an attorney and Democratic Florida state representative for House District 108. Elected in 2018, she previously served as Minority Leader pro tempore from 2022 to 2024. She earned degrees from Yale College and Georgetown University Law Center and is running in Florida's 2026 Democratic primary for Governor.

Records: Healthcare Affordability 2 for, Civil Rights 1 for, Data Privacy 1 for,

Evelyn Castillo-Bach

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Evelyn Castillo-Bach is from the City of Pembroke Pines in Broward County and is a long-time Independent voter. She says she is fed up with ordinary Floridians being ignored, overlooked and disrespected by leaders in Tallahassee.

Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Civil Rights 1 for, Data Privacy 1 for

James Fishback

Did not advance

Republican · lost

James Fishback is a Republican 2026 candidate for Governor of Florida, an investment firm executive.

Records: Civil Rights 2 for, Public Education Quality 2 for

James W. Shaw

Did not advance

Republican · lost

James W. Shaw is a Republican candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 primary election.

Jay Collins

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Jay Collins is a Republican 2026 candidate for Governor of Florida. He serves as Lieutenant Governor of Florida and previously as a state senator; he is a U.S. Army veteran.

Records: Public Safety and Crime Control 6 for, Corporate Accountability 1 for, Data Privacy 1 for,

Jerry Demings

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Jerry Demings is a Democratic 2026 candidate for Governor of Florida. He serves as Mayor of Orange County and previously as county sheriff.

Jim Holcomb

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Jim Holcomb is a retired fire fighter who served Orlando for almost 30 years and also worked as a home builder, helping renovate a house that St. Andrews Presbyterian church used for a family in need. In retirement he drives a veteran to get groceries every Saturday.

Paul Renner

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Paul Renner is a Republican candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 election. He served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2022 through 2024 and was a member of the Florida Board of Governors from April 2025 through January 2026.

Rachel Rodriguez

Did not advance

Republican · lost

Rachel Rodriguez is a Republican attorney and candidate for Governor of Florida in the 2026 primary election.

Stephann Norman

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Stephann Norman is a Tampa-area Democratic candidate who qualified for Florida's 2026 primary for Governor. Her campaign biography says she earned a bachelor's degree in business management from American InterContinental University Online and has worked in customer service and caregiving.

Thomas Eloy Fernandez

Did not advance

Democratic · lost

Thomas Eloy Fernandez is a Homestead resident who qualified for Florida's 2026 Democratic primary for Governor.

Sources: dos.elections.myflorida.com · dos.fl.gov