Florida governor's race swells to 42 candidates

Gov. Ron DeSantis is ineligible to run again due to term limits

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:23am

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There are now 42 active candidates for Florida governor in 2026, including Erik Edward Morris of Tampa who filed to run as a write-in candidate on March 12, according to Florida Department of Elections records. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, is ineligible to run again this year due to term limits.

Why it matters

The large number of candidates in the Florida governor's race reflects the highly competitive and polarized political climate in the state. With the incumbent governor term-limited, the race is wide open and could have significant implications for the direction of Florida politics.

The details

The Florida governor's race has attracted a large and diverse field of candidates, with 42 active contenders as of March 2026. This includes Erik Edward Morris of Tampa, who filed to run as a write-in candidate on March 12. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, is ineligible to run again due to term limits.

  • Erik Edward Morris filed to run as a write-in candidate on March 12, 2026.
  • The Florida governor's election will take place in November 2026.

The players

Erik Edward Morris

A Tampa resident who filed to run as a write-in candidate for Florida governor in 2026.

Ron DeSantis

The current governor of Florida, who is ineligible to run again in 2026 due to term limits.

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What’s next

The Florida Department of Elections will continue to process candidate filings and prepare for the November 2026 gubernatorial election.

The takeaway

The large number of candidates in the Florida governor's race reflects the highly competitive and polarized political climate in the state, with the open seat creating an opportunity for a wide range of contenders to vie for the position.