With Gov. DeSantis term-limited and the 2026 gubernatorial race heating up, a field of candidates will determine whether Tallahassee continues strict oversight of university campuses like the University of North Florida.<\/p>\n
For the past several years, Florida\u2019s public universities have seen the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, changes to post-tenure review, and the high-profile ideological restructuring of New College.<\/p>\n
For UNF students, the stakes in the state leadership shift have never been higher.<\/p>\n
Republican frontrunner<\/p>\n
On the Republican side, the race is currently being dominated by U.S. Representative Byron Donalds. Armed with President Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement<\/a>, Donalds is the projected frontrunner in the Republican primary.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to a recent statewide poll by the UNF Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL), Donalds holds a lead in hypothetical general election matchups, securing 42% of the vote against Democrat David Jolly\u2019s 36%. In a matchup against Democrat Jerry Demings, Donalds leads 43% to 36%.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least at this stage in these races, vote choice is much more about partisanship than candidate identity,\u201d Dr. Sean Freeder, PORL director and professor of political science, stated. \u201cRepublicans still enjoy a clear advantage with Florida voters, but it doesn\u2019t yet appear as strong as in previous years, perhaps unsurprising given that the party of the President usually struggles more in midterm elections.\u201d<\/p>\n During his time<\/a> in the Florida House of Representatives, Donalds championed school choice and parental rights in education. His campaign for governor promises to continue the \u201cAmerica First\u201d conservative<\/a> agenda.<\/p>\n For the Florida State University System, a Donalds administration would likely mean keeping the DeSantis\u2019 initiatives and policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n The governor holds the power to appoint members to the state\u2019s Board of Governors, which oversees the entire Florida State University System.\u00a0<\/p>\n In turn, this influences UNF\u2019s Board of Trustees, directly affecting everything from tuition rates and presidential searches to funding for student organizations and the approval of academic programs.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we realize how much ends up impacting us until it does,\u201d UNF junior Dillion Stafford said. \u201cThe average person probably doesn\u2019t know about the SUS or governor candidates or anything, and then we complain when the people in charge do things that hurt us.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic challengers<\/p>\n On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are positioning themselves as the antidote to the DeSantis era, promising to reverse recent policies. However, their primary is shaping up to be a complex battle, especially when it comes to winning over Gen Z voters.<\/p>\n Recent PORL polling indicates that in hypothetical matchups against Donalds, only 41% of respondents aged 18 to 34 would vote for Jolly, and 39% would vote for Demings.<\/p>\n Currently leading the Democratic polls is David Jolly, a former Republican congressman. Jolly\u2019s path to the governor\u2019s mansion requires heavy mobilization from progressive college students, who may be highly skeptical of his past conservative stances<\/a>, particularly on reproductive rights.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know much about Jolly or any of the governor candidates, but I know I\u2019m not voting conservative,\u201d UNF freshman Allyson Young said.<\/p>\n Also in the race is Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. Both Jolly and Demings have signaled that a Democratic administration would halt the state\u2019s intervention in higher education.<\/p>\n According to Jolly\u2019s website<\/a>, he \u201caims to reverse many of Governor Ron DeSantis\u2019s policies,\u201d including \u201cremoving DeSantis\u2019s appointees, increasing teacher pay, and reviving growth management policies\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Tallahassee preempts local governments from being able to make decisions for themselves, you\u2019re at that point adversely impacting the will of the people, and that is something that has to change,\u201d Demings told<\/a> a reporter while speaking in Tampa.\u00a0<\/p>\n Important election dates Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters: July 4 General Election 2026<\/p>\n Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters: September 19 ___<\/p>\n
\nPrimary Election 2026<\/p>\n
\nDeadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters: July 9 \u2013 16
\nDeadline to register to vote or change party affiliation: July 20
\nDeadline to request that ballot be mailed: August 6
\nEarly voting period (mandatory period): August 8 \u2013 15
\nElection Day: August 18<\/p>\n
\nDeadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters: September 24 \u2013 October 1
\nDeadline to register to vote: October 5
\nDeadline to request that ballot be mailed: October 22
\nEarly voting period (mandatory period): October 24 \u2013 31
\nElection Day: November 3<\/p>\n