How Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Will Shape His State’s 2026 Midterm Race

After two terms, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will leave office in January because term limits bar him from running again. He has reshaped Florida’s political landscape, turning the once-swing state into a Republican stronghold, and experts say his hardline legacy will influence the race to replace him. Republican US Representative Byron Donalds is seeking to keep the governor’s mansion for his party, facing stronger-than-expected competition from centrist Democrat and former congressman David Jolly. Political scientist Aubrey Jewett says DeSantis’s positions may have alienated some voters, and the election will show whether that is enough to bring a change.