TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – As Florida\u2019s elections take shape, a dropout from the state\u2019s gubernatorial race could shake up the field. <\/p>\n
Jerry Demings announced last week that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer<\/a>, prompting him to withdraw from the race. <\/p>\n He said to get proper treatment, he had to leave the campaign trial. <\/p>\n \u201cI am going to suspend my campaign for governor. I\u2019m going to focus on my health. That will become the priority,\u201d Demings said. <\/p>\n More Florida politics:<\/p>\n Dr. Lonna Atkeson, Director of the LeRoy Collins Institute, said Demings had name recognition and experience, and this could open up the field. <\/p>\n \u201cThey were, of course, going to the people and the names that they recognized and knew in this process. And I do think that that sets up David Jolly for getting a lot of that support, but there are other people in the pool who could arise in the next two months before that decision is made,\u201d Atkinson said. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n