FEW SHORT MINUTES. RIGHT NOW AT SIX. ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA. YEAH. ALLEN’S DEMINGS SAYING THAT HE WILL RESTORE RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, TACKLE RISING COSTS, BRING FLORIDIANS TOGETHER AND ALSO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS MORNING, WESH TWO CHRISTINA WATKINS JOINS US HERE IN STUDIO CHRISTINA. MAYOR DEMINGS IS TOUTING HIS DECADES OF SERVICE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AS THE REASON WHY HE SHOULD BE THE NEXT LEADER OF OUR STATE. YEAH. AFTER SERVING AS ORANGE COUNTY’S MAYOR FOR YEARS, SINCE 2018, DEMINGS WILL NOW JOIN A CROWDED FIELD OF CANDIDATES IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR. IT INCLUDES REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS, WHO HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. ALSO, FORMER FORMER REPUBLICAN FLORIDA HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RENNER AND FORMER CONGRESSMAN DAVID JOLLY, WHO YOU SEE RIGHT THERE RUNNING AS THE DEMOCRAT. IN A STATEMENT THIS MORNING, DEMINGS SAID IN PART, QUOTE, FLORIDA NEEDS A CHANGE. WE NEED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GOVERNOR. HE SAYS HE PUTS DELIVERING RESULTS BEFORE GRABBING HEADLINES AND PETTY POLITICAL FIGHTS. HE GOES ON TO SAY, I’M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR TO CONTINUE PUTTING FLORIDA FAMILIES FIRST, RESTORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAKE OUR STATE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE AGAIN. NOW, BEFORE BECOMING ORANGE COUNTY’S MAYOR IN 2018, DEMINGS SERVED AS ORLANDO’S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE CHIEF AND THEN THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED SHERIFF IN ORANGE COUNTY. IN THIS MORNING’S CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT, DEMINGS LAID OUT HIS PLAN FOR THE STATE. IF ELECTED, HE SAID HE WANTS TO LEAD WITH THE SAME VALUES THAT GUIDED HIM THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER. ACCOUNTABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND COMPASSION. HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME OF HIS MAIN GOALS. DEMINGS SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE FLORIDA A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE. HE ALSO SAYS HE WILL HOLD INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE, EXPAND MEDICAID, TAKE STEPS TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS AND PROTECT FLORIDA’S ENVIRONMENT AND WATER SUPPLY. HE ALSO SAYS HE WILL MAKE SURE VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY. DEMINGS DEMOCRATIC COMPETITOR DAVID JOLLY, WHO HE WILL FACE IN THE PRIMARY NEXT YEAR, CONGRATULATED HIM. LOOK, I WELCOME HIM TO THE RACE. JERRY DEMINGS HAS HAD A VERY LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER, AND I SUPPOSE HIS DECISION IS TO ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION WITH VOTERS ABOUT WHAT HE OFFERS. THAT IS INCONSEQUENTIAL TO MY CONVERSATION, RIGHT? I DON’T THINK AS DEMOCRATS, WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD. WE SOMETIMES HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. WE NEED CANDIDATES WILLING TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH VOTERS. DEMINGS PLANS TO HOLD A RALLY TONIGHT AT THE ROSEN CENTER ON INTERNATIONAL DRIVE. OF COURSE, WESH TWO NEWS WILL BE THERE WHEN IT ALL STARTS THIS AFTERNOON AT 430. ALLEN AND CHRISTINA WESH TWO WAS THE FIRST TO TELL YOU WHEN JERRY DEMINGS FILED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND SENT A PUSH ALERT AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR. AS SOON AS DEMINGS ANNOUNCED HIS CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW, BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE WESH TWO NEWS APP AND TURN ON BREAKING NEWS ALERTS SO YOU DON’T MI
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings launches campaign for governor of Florida
Updated: 6:19 AM EST Nov 6, 2025
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially announced his campaign for governor of Florida on Thursday morning. Demings is hoping to be the first African American governor of Florida after filing paperwork at the State Elections Office.Goals as governorIn his announcement, Demings emphasized his commitment to restoring responsible leadership, addressing rising costs, uniting Floridians and enhancing public safety across the state.He also aims to reduce crime, expand affordable housing and lead one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions, according to his campaign launch. As governor, Demings said he will focus on making Florida a place where families can “thrive, not just survive.” He plans to hold insurance companies accountable and expand Medicaid to ensure more Floridians have access to affordable care.“Across Florida, families are working harder than ever but struggling to keep up with the rising cost of housing, groceries, insurance, and electricity,” said Mayor Jerry Demings in his announcement. “Our state has become more expensive and less fair for everyone, all while power is being stripped away from local communities that know their residents best. Florida needs a change. We need a different type of governor who puts delivering results before grabbing headlines and petty political fights. As a local leader, I’ve seen firsthand what families are up against, and I’ve spent my career protecting communities and making government work for them, not for special interests. I’m running for governor to continue putting Florida families first, restore accountability, and make our state safe and affordable again.” About Jerry DemingsJerry 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, he was Orlando’s first African American police chief.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially announced his campaign for governor of Florida on Thursday morning.
Demings is hoping to be the first African American governor of Florida after filing paperwork at the State Elections Office.
Goals as governor
In his announcement, Demings emphasized his commitment to restoring responsible leadership, addressing rising costs, uniting Floridians and enhancing public safety across the state.
He also aims to reduce crime, expand affordable housing and lead one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions, according to his campaign launch.
As governor, Demings said he will focus on making Florida a place where families can “thrive, not just survive.” He plans to hold insurance companies accountable and expand Medicaid to ensure more Floridians have access to affordable care.
“Across Florida, families are working harder than ever but struggling to keep up with the rising cost of housing, groceries, insurance, and electricity,” said Mayor Jerry Demings in his announcement. “Our state has become more expensive and less fair for everyone, all while power is being stripped away from local communities that know their residents best. Florida needs a change. We need a different type of governor who puts delivering results before grabbing headlines and petty political fights. As a local leader, I’ve seen firsthand what families are up against, and I’ve spent my career protecting communities and making government work for them, not for special interests. I’m running for governor to continue putting Florida families first, restore accountability, and make our state safe and affordable again.”
About Jerry Demings
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, he was Orlando’s first African American police chief.