Republicans have an early but narrow lead in the gubernatorial race, as Democrats hope to rebuild their brand in the Sunshine State.

State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who recently proclaimed the Florida Democratic Party “dead” before leaving the party, said Friday he will run for governor as an independent in 2026. Pizzo has been hinting for months that he planned to mount a run to succeed Republican Gov.

As Florida Republicans grapple with internal tensions and legislative gridlock, state Democrats are quietly working to revive their struggling political brand.