Gia Estevez | Contributing Writer
Florida’s 2026 governor’s race is starting to take shape after the August 18 primary elections. Democrat David Jolly and Republican Byron Donalds won their respective primaries and will now face each other in the general election on November 3.
Both candidates have made issues such as housing, affordability, healthcare, and education important parts of their campaigns. However, they have very different ideas about how Florida should move forward.
David Jolly, the Democratic candidate for governor, is a former U.S. representative from Florida. Before he joined the Democratic Party, Jolly was a Republican while serving in Congress and later became an independent.
Jolly is making affordability one of the main priorities of his campaign, specifically when it comes to housing and property insurance. His campaign has proposed creating a state fund to help reduce some of the pressure on Florida’s insurance market and any hurricane-related costs. Moreover, he supports an increasing workforce and affordable housing across the state.
Education is another major part of Jolly’s campaign. He supports more funding for public schools and an increased investment into funding for infrastructure and school resources. Not only that, but he also wants to increase teacher pay and attract more teachers to Florida schools. His campaign argues that stronger public schools are important not just for students, but also for families and the state’s workforce.
Jolly has also made higher education part of his campaign. His campaign supports giving qualified Florida students preferred application status at the state’s public universities. This could be especially relevant to college students across Florida, including students at FIU, as the state continues to debate access to public higher education.
His campaign also wants private schools that receive public voucher money to meet more of the same standards as public schools, including providing specialized services to students and not charging any additional tuition— making the program based more on financial need.
Healthcare is another major focus of Jolly’s campaign. He supports expanding Medicaid in Florida and higher access to primary healthcare. His campaign has also connected healthcare costs to the much larger issue of affordability in the state.
Jolly has made environmental issues part of his campaign. His platform includes protecting Florida’s water and preparing communities for more climate-related problems. He has also called for changes to campaign finance and ethics laws, including more transparency in the government.
Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate for governor, is a current U.S. representative from Florida. His campaign has focused on affordability, education, economic growth, immigration, and other conservative policies.
Donalds has made lowering costs for Floridians one of the main focuses of his campaign issues. His campaign has focused on property insurance and housing costs, while also supporting less government regulation and lower taxes.
His campaign has focused on also growing Florida’s economy by making it easier for businesses to both open and expand. Donalds has proposed changes to the state’s permitting process, stating that reducing delays could help create more jobs and encourage economic growth.
Education is another major issue for Donalds. He supports school choice and giving parents more control over the education their children are receiving. His campaign has also focused on opposing what it describes as “woke ideology” in schools. Donalds has also proposed creating personalized education plans for Florida students that would help them prepare for their future after high school, such as joining the military or going to college. The plan would also allow students to earn credits through options such as dual enrollment, industry certifications, and apprenticeships.
Immigration is another major part of Donalds’ campaign. He has said he supports President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and wants more action against illegal immigration in the United States.
Donalds has also addressed environmental issues, including improving water quality, restoring the Everglades, and protecting Florida’s natural resources. His campaign has also focused on improving infrastructure as Florida continues to grow.
With healthcare, Donalds has proposed his “Your Doctor, Your Price” plan, which focuses on making healthcare prices much easier for patients to see before receiving their treatment. The plan also addresses topics such as prescription drug prices, prior authorization, and surprise medical bills.
For FIU students, the governor’s race could have a direct impact on higher education as the governor plays a role in decisions involving Florida’s public universities. Both candidates have included education and career opportunities in their platforms, making higher education one of the issues college students may be watching as the election approaches.
FIU students also shared the issues they would like to see focused on by the next governor.
“Affordability and preservation of the Everglades,” said Barbara Perez, a junior majoring in political science.
“I would like for them to prioritize mental health and health overall as well as advocating for the older community,” said Damary Blanco-Vela, a senior majoring in psychology.
As the November election gets closer, both candidates will continue campaigning across Florida and explaining their plans to voters. The general election will take place on November 3.
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