This election cycle, the Phillips Academy Poll is polling Florida’s senate and governor’s races. In recent elections, Florida has chosen Republicans by narrow margins, including the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections—Donald Trump won by 1.2 and 3.3 percentage points, respectively. The Senate seat currently held by Republican Marco Rubio will be up for reelection as well as the office of Governor held by Republican Ron DeSantis. 

Incumbent Senator Marco Rubio is running for reelection and faces no competitive Republican challengers. His competitor will almost certainly be Democrat Val Demings, a member of the U.S. House, representing Florida’s 10th Congressional District. She previously worked in law enforcement, and she was Orlando’s first female chief of police. Demings has already raised over twenty million dollars for her campaign.  

As for the gubernatorial race, incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis is seeking reelection as well. His Democratic challenger will likely be Charlie Christ, a member of the U.S. House, representing the 13th Congressional District. Christ is a Republican-turned-Democrat, having served as the Republican governor of Florida, from 2007 to 2011. Christ also was the first Republican Attorney General to be elected in Florida in 2003. Christ has a long, decorated career in politics and will be a strong challenger for DeSantis, but Florida has shown strong support for DeSantis in the past and he will definitely have a lot of support.

Florida Republicans are gathering support for DeSantis in the governor’s race, rallying behind his anti-Biden and personal freedom sentiment. Democrats are hoping to flip Rubio’s seat, and they may have a serious challenger in Val Demings.