In the highly significant states of Georgia and Florida, with Republican Governors retiring, there is a hopeful opportunity for two former Republicans who have switched to the Democratic Party due to Donald Trump’s abuses, to compete for their states’ governorships.
In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp is term limited, and Democrats are seen as having a good chance to gain the Governorship, even though the state legislature is heavily Republican.
The Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, is a possible Republican choice, who had to deal with Donald Trump’s attempt to try to fix the Georgia Presidential election results in 2020, and refused to cooperate with Trump.
But Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, in office in the present term, is favored in public opinion polls and in endorsements, having succeeded former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who repudiated his Republican ties and has become a Democrat. He is one of two most likely Democratic choices, with the other being former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, with Bottoms at this point way ahead in endorsements and polling.
In the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is term limited, and the Republican Party has two major competitors to succeed him as the party nominee. They are Northern Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, and former State Speaker of the House Paul Renner, but with present short term Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins possibly entering the race, supposedly with the backing of Governor DeSantis.
Donalds is, at this point, way ahead in polling and endorsements, but subject to possible changes
The Democrats, who have not won the governorship since 1994, see their best chance with former Republican Congressman David Jolly, who has heavy polling and endorsement support, but will have a challenge from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
Sadly, in both Georgia and Florida, it will be a major accomplishment if the Democrats win either race, with the odds in Florida a bit better, as polls indicate a tight race between Donalds and Jolly at this point.