ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Friday that he is suspending his race for Florida governor and disclosed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I am going to focus on my health,” Demings said. “That will become the priority.”
Demings, a Democrat, said he will complete his term as mayor, which continues through the end of the year. He has reached his term limit in that role. He made the disclosure in a media availability following the Orange County State of the County address.
His withdrawal from the gubernatorial race leaves David Jolly as the only remaining candidate in the Democratic party.
He was sworn in as Orange County mayor on Dec. 4, 2018, becoming the first African American to serve in that role.
Before becoming mayor, Demings served as Orlando’s police chief starting in 1998. He was elected Orange County sheriff in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016. He also was the first African American in both those roles.
He is married to former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, and they are the parents to three sons and have five grandchildren.