What Florida’s 2026 Primary Results Set Up in the Governor and Senate Races
Florida’s August 18 primary did more than narrow the field. It established the major-party matchups for two of the state’s most consequential statewide contests: the race to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis and a special election for the U.S. Senate.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won his party’s nomination for governor, while former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. Donalds defeated Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, political newcomer James Fishback and several other candidates. Jolly, a former Republican who later became a Democrat, will run with former Democratic Rep. Gwen Graham. The Florida Division of Elections lists the Donalds and Jolly tickets among the qualified candidates for the November general election. (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
Why the governor’s race is unusually open
DeSantis cannot seek a third consecutive term under Florida’s constitutional term limit. That makes the 2026 election the first open gubernatorial contest in the state since 2018, when DeSantis first won the office. The winner will inherit a state government shaped by DeSantis-era policies on education, immigration, abortion, elections and regulation, while also deciding how closely to align with President Donald Trump.
Donalds would make history as Florida’s first Black governor if he wins in November. His campaign has emphasized tax cuts, changes to insurance regulation and a state-level version of the federal government-efficiency agenda. Jolly presents a different political profile: a former Republican seeking to attract Democrats, independents and voters uneasy with the direction of state politics. The general election will test whether Florida’s recent Republican advantage remains durable or whether Democrats can rebuild a competitive statewide coalition. (apnews.com)
The Senate result is a different kind of election
State Rep. Angie Nixon won the Democratic Senate nomination over retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody won her party’s nomination. Nixon will face Moody in a special election to fill the remaining portion of Marco Rubio’s Senate term after Rubio left the chamber to become secretary of state. (apnews.com)
That distinction matters. The Senate contest is not for a newly created seat or a full six-year term. It is a special election for the unfinished term, although the winner may later seek a full term through the regular election cycle.
Florida’s primary system generally selects party nominees, not officeholders. The August results therefore settle who will represent the Republican and Democratic parties, but not who will govern or serve in the Senate. The state’s official schedule places the general election on November 3, 2026. Certification, recount procedures and any legal challenges remain part of the formal process. (dos.fl.gov)