Donalds and Jolly Lead Tight Florida Gubernatorial Race

Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly have emerged as the dominant candidates in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race. Both candidates lead the field in polling and campaign donations, though a University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll indicates the contest remains too close to call.

While the two major party candidates control the narrative, six other candidates appear on the ballot. These include Libertarian Scott Jewett and No Party Affiliation candidates Frank Russo, Moliere Dimanche, Dean Abrams, Dr. Jeff Datto, and Charles Burkett.

The minor candidates are running on diverse platforms, including proposals to eliminate property taxes, raise average teacher wages to $75,000, and abolish homeowner associations. Some candidates, such as Charles Burkett and Dr. Jeff Datto, are fully self-funding their bids. Others are utilizing social media and AI-generated avatars to reach voters, with Burkett specifically advocating for no restrictions on abortion.