(TotalConservative.com) – Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida is considering a 2026 gubernatorial run in the Sunshine State, making him the latest name added to the list of hopefuls.
On Tuesday, March 5, Moskowitz told Politico on Capitol Hill that he’s not ruling out a bid for the governorship in Florida in 2026. He said he’s “looking at it,” but clarified that it’s still “super early” to make a definite decision.
The race will surely have more eyes on it than usual due to the fact that current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who won in 2022 in a landslide, will not be able to run again. DeSantis, first elected in 2018, is already in his second consecutive term. Per state law, he cannot serve a third consecutive term, although there’s no lifetime limit for the total amount of times one may be elected – meaning he could run again in 2030.
Some of the names being floated to replace DeSantis include Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who claims he isn’t interested in running; Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who expressed interest in running last September; and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Some are also speculating that Florida’s first lady, Casey DeSantis, would make a strong candidate following a poll in which she was the most preferred choice (at 22%), which included Donalds and Gaetz (9% each), Moody (6%), and a few others.
Among the Democratic names floated are Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell and Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones, both of whom confirmed that they are “strongly considering” a run in 2026. With registered Republican voters outnumbering Democrats and the GOP holding a majority in the Florida House and Senate, Driskell and Jones will have a difficult race if they enter the contest.
Moskowitz said the only Democrat who would have a shot is perhaps one “who worked for a Republican.” The last time Florida had a Democratic governor was Buddy MacKay in 1999. He only served for three weeks after the death of Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles.
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