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What are the top issues in the 2026 Florida elections?

About one year from today, on Aug. 18, 2026, Florida candidates for elected office will face voters for the first time.

The field is far from set and much remains uncertain. For example, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is early favorite in the Republican gubernatorial primary. But major potential candidates like First Lady Casey DeSantis are still weighing a run.

Still, up and down the ballot, candidates who’ve officially entered the field are already coalescing around a few key issues they think will resonate with voters. Here’s a breakdown.

No matter what they’re running for, essentially every candidate agrees that Florida has gotten too expensive.

Some Democrats have said the state is slipping out of reach for the working class because Republican leaders have chosen well-heeled business interests over everyday Floridians. In an interview Thursday in Tampa, Democratic attorney general hopeful José Javier Rodriguez, a former state senator, said he would go after big businesses like property insurers and utilities if they are found to be bilking consumers.

“That’s the attorney general’s job, to protect the people and protect the state when they’re getting scammed and screwed,” said Rodriguez, a Miami attorney.

Mayor Deegan speaks to press after Florida DOGE auditors arrive in Jacksonville

Mayor Donna Deegan spoke to the media after the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) arrived in Jacksonville to audit the city for what the agency calls “excessive government spending.”

The auditors are expected to be in the city for two days.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia told Jacksonville media that auditors are on site looking for wasteful spending.

"We are looking for some of the things that they should not be spending on, things that if taxpayers knew that they were being charged for in property tax relief,” Ingoglia said.

In a letter last week, Florida DOGE cited rising property values and growing annual property tax collections as the primary reasons it would be making its way to Jacksonville to “identify and report on excessive spending at the city and county level.”

It’s almost back-to-Session time for lawmakers

While parents and kids are getting ready for the new school year, lawmakers are already preparing for the next Legislative Session.

House Speaker Danny Perez sent out a memo this week outlining deadlines for bill fillings and appropriation project requests.

Starting Aug. 18, lawmakers can start filing bills.

“Members may begin filing legislation through Leagis and Appropriations Projects through the filing system” in Aug. 18, Perez’s memo detailed.

Another key date is Nov. 21, which is the deadline for member bill submissions. “All bill requests must be submitted electronically through Leagis to House Bill Drafting no later than 5 p.m.,” the memo said, adding that the deadline was the same for appropriation project requests.

On Jan. 7, the memo said, “All Member bill requests, including requests for companion bills, must be in final draft form no later than 5 p.m.”

Lawmakers already established that six weeks of committee meetings start Oct. 6 and conclude Dec. 12 before Regular Session convenes at 12 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Changes Coming to the Public Service Commission

Two longtime members of the Florida Public Service Commission are poised to leave the utility regulatory panel in the coming months after not seeking reappointment.

Commissioners Art Graham and Andrew Fay, both former chairmen of the commission, were not among 16 people who applied before a Monday deadline for two seats on the panel, according to applications obtained Thursday by The News Service of Florida. The current terms of Graham and Fay will expire in January.

President Donald Trump last month nominated Graham, who has served on the PSC since 2010, to become a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors. Fay, an attorney, has served on the commission since 2018.

In an email Thursday, Fay, who previously worked in the state Attorney General's Office, said that after "being blessed with 15 years in public service," he decided not to seek reappointment.

"I believe it is time to step aside and give others an opportunity to serve our great state," Fay said in the email. "Florida has no shortage of talented leaders who are ready to answer the call to public service, and I am confident these leaders will continue to advance the important work of the commission. I am grateful for the privilege of serving the people of Florida and will always cherish my time with the commission."