Jerry Demings files to run for Governor in 2026

It’s official. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has filed to run for Governor in 2026.

Demings is scheduled to hold an announcement rally Thursday in Orlando’s tourism corridor.

He did not immediately respond for comment.

Demings, who is term-limited as Mayor, has been rumored to be mulling a run for Governor for weeks. He will now give former U.S. Rep. David Jolly a competitive Democratic Primary.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former House Speaker Paul Renner are already running as Republicans to replace the term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Demings has sparred with Florida Republicans this year on several issues from immigration enforcement to Department of Government Efficiency audits.

Demings accused Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier of pressuring him and his County Commission to sign an amended federal immigration deal to agree to transport detainees to federal facilities.

The Mayor argued the county corrections department is badly understaffed and doesn’t have the manpower to make the drive four hours away to Alligator Alcatraz. Under fear DeSantis would remove him from office, Demings and the Commission signed the contract but Demings made clear of his frustrations with state leaders.

“Let us have some sensible, common sense conversations about these types of issues, and not just try to mandate and bully and have a one-way conversation. And sadly, that’s what’s happening in the state of Florida right now,” Demings said this Summer.

Deming’s career broke barriers as he became Orlando’s first Black Police Chief, the first Black Orange County Sheriff and the first Black County Mayor.

At 59, Demings was elected as Orange County Mayor with 62% percent of the vote in 2018.

Demings told the Orlando Sentinel his large victory “speaks volumes just how far this community has come.”

“I hope that this inspires every boy or girl if you work hard and you play by the rules you can become whoever you dream to be,” he said.

Demings and his wife are a Central Florida power couple. He is married to former U.S. Rep. Val Demings.