Jerry Demings has been Orange County’s mayor for seven years. In 2008, he became the first African American elected sheriff in Orange County, and in 1998 was Orlando’s first African American police chief. Now, Demings is hoping to be the first African American governor of Florida after filing paperwork at the State Elections office. “This is a cycle when Democrats can win,” said former Republican St. Petersburg Congressman David Jolly, who is now a Democrat and running for governor. He’ll be facing Demings, and likely a large contingent of Democrats, in next year’s primary. He says Demings will be playing catch-up, with Jolly having hosted more than 100 campaign events since announcing months ago. Jolly added, “People are showing up screaming for change. We’re exhausted by an affordability crisis, exhausted by culture wars, and everybody wants change in this moment. And I feel very good about how this race is shaping up. What I can tell you is, Jerry’s decision is inconsequential to the task before me.” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told WESH 2, “Floridians will get to hear a wide range of opinions, ideas, and visions for ways we can make this state work for everyone. We are running full steam ahead to ensure whoever the nominee is, will have a strong party apparatus in place to win back the Governor’s Mansion.” Republican leaders say they’re not worried who makes it out of the Democratic primary, pointing to a poll that shows any Republican running would beat a Democrat. “It’s just going to be another vanity failed run by a Dem,” said the Republican Party of Florida Chair, Evan Power. He says South Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, is rumored to be considering a run. Former House Speaker Paul Renner is also in the Republican primary. The results of the new University of North Florida Poll show Donalds beating Demings 45% to 33% in a head-to-head matchup, with 22% undecided. The voter survey shows Casey DeSantis would beat Demings 47% to 36% with 17% undecided. Power added, “I don’t know what the Democrat primary is going to tell, but you have two candidates that have no chance on a statewide level, so, we’re happy to let them fight it out.” Power also says Demings and Orange County are already being targeted by DOGE auditors for alleged wasteful spending, suggesting voters may have little interest in his approach to running the state government. Demings is expected to formally announce his campaign launch at the Rosen Centre Hotel on International Drive on Thursday evening.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

Jerry Demings has been Orange County’s mayor for seven years. In 2008, he became the first African American elected sheriff in Orange County, and in 1998 was Orlando’s first African American police chief.

Now, Demings is hoping to be the first African American governor of Florida after filing paperwork at the State Elections office.

“This is a cycle when Democrats can win,” said former Republican St. Petersburg Congressman David Jolly, who is now a Democrat and running for governor.

He’ll be facing Demings, and likely a large contingent of Democrats, in next year’s primary.

He says Demings will be playing catch-up, with Jolly having hosted more than 100 campaign events since announcing months ago.

Jolly added, “People are showing up screaming for change. We’re exhausted by an affordability crisis, exhausted by culture wars, and everybody wants change in this moment. And I feel very good about how this race is shaping up. What I can tell you is, Jerry’s decision is inconsequential to the task before me.”

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told WESH 2, “Floridians will get to hear a wide range of opinions, ideas, and visions for ways we can make this state work for everyone. We are running full steam ahead to ensure whoever the nominee is, will have a strong party apparatus in place to win back the Governor’s Mansion.”

Republican leaders say they’re not worried who makes it out of the Democratic primary, pointing to a poll that shows any Republican running would beat a Democrat.

“It’s just going to be another vanity failed run by a Dem,” said the Republican Party of Florida Chair, Evan Power.

He says South Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, is rumored to be considering a run.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner is also in the Republican primary.

The results of the new University of North Florida Poll show Donalds beating Demings 45% to 33% in a head-to-head matchup, with 22% undecided.

The voter survey shows Casey DeSantis would beat Demings 47% to 36% with 17% undecided.

Power added, “I don’t know what the Democrat primary is going to tell, but you have two candidates that have no chance on a statewide level, so, we’re happy to let them fight it out.”

Power also says Demings and Orange County are already being targeted by DOGE auditors for alleged wasteful spending, suggesting voters may have little interest in his approach to running the state government.

Demings is expected to formally announce his campaign launch at the Rosen Centre Hotel on International Drive on Thursday evening.