Jerry Demings, the Democratic mayor of Orange County, Florida, and a former sheriff, has officially filed paperwork to run in the 2026 race for governor of Florida. His candidacy adds a prominent name to a competitive gubernatorial field as Republicans prepare to succeed the term-limited Ron DeSantis.
Recent polling adds further urgency to his task. Our article last week highlighted data showing Democrats in Florida once again on the defensive as Republicans build an early 10-point edge in multiple statewide match-ups. For example, one survey of likely voters found Republican candidates ahead of Democrat Jerry Demings by 11 to 13 points in hypothetical head-to-head contests. These figures suggest that even a strong candidate entering the field will face structural headwinds.
Before becoming county mayor in 2018, Demings served as the sheriff of Orange County and previously held the position of chief of the Orlando Police Department. As mayor, he oversaw a region that enjoyed a tourism boom, but he also enjoyed comfort in a dark blue county that is among the select few remaining for Democrats.
His tenure as county mayor hasn’t been free from controversy. During the 2020 COVID outbreak, Demings set much stricter policies in place for Orange County than the vast majority of other counties in the state. By a county order, an 11 pm curfew was set for 11 pm to 5 am.
On sanctuary city status for immigration, Demings initially resisted the state and federal government’s demand to comply with immigration enforcement measures, but Demings ultimately relented after a bitter public dispute with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Demings will have to rely on his credentials as a law enforcement leader to persuade moderate voters who aren’t fond of Orange County’s policies. Demings must also address the national perception of Florida’s shift away from Democratic candidates in statewide elections. Analysts note that Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since the late 90’s, and the 2026 race is expected to attract significant scrutiny.
Demings’ campaign does not exist in isolation; his wife, Val Demings, was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Florida in 2022 but lost by an embarrasing landslide to then incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio. This outcome highlights the challenges Democrats face in statewide races in Florida, providing a relevant context for Jerry Demings’ campaign. His wife’s previous campaign experience will provide him with insights into the complexity of organizing at the statewide level, but as Val discovered, campaign infrastructure doesn’t guarantee success at the polls.
