Florida
Val Demings Bows Out of Orange County Mayor’s Race, Clears Path for New Candidates
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Former U.S. Congresswoman and Orlando Police Chief Val Demings officially announced Friday via a Facebook post that she will not seek the office of Orange County Mayor in the upcoming 2026 election. The seat is currently held by her husband, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings.
Her decision ends weeks of speculation about whether one of Central Florida’s most recognizable political figures would enter the race and reshapes the early landscape for potential candidates now eyeing the county’s top executive position.
A Powerhouse Couple’s Political Legacy
Val and Jerry Demings are widely regarded as one of Orange County’s most influential political couples, having both served in high-profile roles in law enforcement and elected office. Jerry Demings, the current mayor and a former Orange County Sheriff, easily won re-election, and many political insiders believed Val Demings would have cruised to victory with his backing had she entered the race.
This isn’t the first time Demings considered a mayoral campaign. In 2014, she briefly filed to challenge then-incumbent Republican Mayor Teresa Jacobs but withdrew before Election Day.
To date, candidates who have filed paperwork with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections for the 2026 mayoral race include Orange County Clerk of Courts and former County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell (filed March 31, 2025), tech entrepreneur Chris Messina (filed April 21, 2025), and Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe (filed May 8, 2025).
An Open Race and New Political Opportunities
With Demings now officially out of the running, the door opens for other local leaders and hopefuls who had been waiting for her decision before making their campaigns public. Political observers expect a wave of announcements in the coming months as candidates position themselves for the 2026 election.
In her announcement, Demings called for strong, selfless, and courageous leadership in Orange County, emphasizing the importance of integrity, sound judgment, and bold decision-making.
“We are in challenging times, and our vote matters,” Demings said. “I pray we use our vote wisely.”
What’s Next for Val Demings?
While stepping aside from the mayoral race, Demings’ political future continues to draw speculation. Many insiders wonder whether she’ll pursue another U.S. Senate bid in red-state Florida for the seat once held by Senator Marco Rubio, who left the Senate to join the Trump administration as U.S. Secretary of State. The seat is currently held by Ashley Moody, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace Rubio.
For now, Demings expressed gratitude to supporters and admiration for her husband’s leadership.
“Thank you, Mayor Jerry Demings,” she wrote. “You exemplify strong, courageous leadership every day, and we are a better, more unified community because of it.”
As Orange County’s political landscape begins to shift, Florida National News (FNN) will continue following developments as candidates enter the 2026 mayoral race and as attention turns to Demings’ next potential move.
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J. Willie David, III contributed to this article and can be reached at News@FloridaNationalNews.com.
Florida
Orange County Mayor Launches Obama-Style Campaign for Florida Governor, Calling for Unity, Leadership, and Change
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Before a packed ballroom of cheering supporters at the Rosen Centre on Orlando’s International Drive Thursday evening, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially launched his campaign for Governor of Florida in 2026, declaring that it’s time to “turn the page” on division and usher in a “new style of leadership.”
The 66-year-old former Orlando Police Chief and Orange County Sheriff — now serving his second term as mayor — delivered a powerful, hopeful message reminiscent of President Barack Obama’s campaign themes of unity and renewal, rallying voters with the promise that “the power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
A Message of Unity and Renewal
“This is not a right or left moment, but a right or wrong moment in our history,” Demings told the energized crowd. “We’re tired of toxic and divisive politics. If you vote for me, it’s a vote for a new style of leadership. It’s a vote for change. It’s a vote for democracy.”
The crowd erupted as Demings leaned into his record of public service and crisis management, drawing a sharp contrast with political partisanship in Tallahassee. He pledged to restore local control, raise wages, stabilize housing costs, and improve access to mental health care through public-private partnerships.
“They call me woke,” Demings said, pausing as the audience laughed. “I don’t know what they mean — but after four and a half decades of public service, they woke me up.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ wife, former U.S. Congresswoman Val Demings, tells a standing-room-only crowd, “Help is on the way,” during her husband’s campaign kickoff rally for Florida governor at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Photo by J. Willie David, III / Florida National News
Val Demings: ‘Help Is on the Way’
Demings’ wife, former Congresswoman Val Demings, introduced him to thunderous applause. “Through all of the darkness,” she told the audience, “help is on the way.”
Her remarks framed her husband’s candidacy as a call to hope and action, positioning him as a pragmatic problem-solver rooted in Florida values.
Demings, who has long clashed with Governor Ron DeSantis over COVID-19 restrictions, immigration, and state control of local budgets, promised to bring people together across party lines. “My goal is to engage the private sector in working with the public sector to solve the issues that affect us all,” he said.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings held a press conference to answer questions from the media following his historic campaign kickoff rally for Florida governor at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Photo by J. Willie David, III / Florida National News
A Campaign to Make History
If elected, Demings would become Florida’s first Black governor — a milestone both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge as a turning point in the state’s history.
He faces a crowded field, but his reputation as a steady crisis manager — having led Central Florida through mass shootings, hurricanes, and the pandemic — has made him a formidable contender.
Asked to contrast himself with likely Republican opponent Rep. Byron Donalds, Demings didn’t hesitate: “He’s never been a crisis manager or leader. I’ve led through storms, tragedies, and rebuilding — not from the sidelines, but in the arena.”
‘A New Sheriff in Town’
Demings’ closing line drew roaring applause: “If you vote for me, it’s a vote for the right person at the right time,” he said. Then, echoing a phrase once used by DeSantis himself, Demings smiled and declared, “It’s time for a new sheriff in town.”
With a listening tour planned across the state, Demings aims to build a grassroots movement that transcends party lines — one he hopes will awaken Florida’s independent voters and redefine what leadership looks like in the Sunshine State.
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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN) – The David Jolly for Governor campaign has extended a warm welcome to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who officially entered the 2026 Democratic primary for Florida Governor. The campaign emphasized the importance of a respectful and substantive primary race that strengthens the Democratic Party and enhances its chances in the general election.
“I welcome Mayor Demings to this important race,” said former U.S. Representative David Jolly, Democratic candidate for Governor. “All of Florida—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike—deserves a spirited Democratic Party primary that puts voters first, one rooted in real solutions for the affordability of housing and healthcare, the future of public education, protecting personal freedoms, and restoring trust and competence in government.”
Jolly’s remarks signal a collaborative tone within the Democratic field, focusing on unity and shared goals amid growing anticipation for a competitive 2026 gubernatorial race.
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J Wilie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
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