Florida Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Byron Donalds (Republican), David Jolly (Democrat), Scott Jewett (Libertarian), Dean Abrams (independent), Charles Burkett (independent), Jeff Datto (independent), Moliere Dimanche (independent) and Frank Russo (independent) are the candidates for governor of Florida in the November 3, 2026 general election. Semblen has analyzed 43 ads in this race; 21 used at least one manipulation technique, most often glittering generalities and loaded language. Next date for voters: Last day to request a mail ballot: Thu, Oct 22.
Byron Donalds (REP), David Jolly (DEM), Scott Jewett (LIB), Dean Abrams (IND), Charles Burkett (IND), Jeff Datto (IND), Moliere Dimanche (IND), Frank Russo (IND).
On the ballot as listed by Florida Division of Elections, candidate listing 2026 General Election, Governor. 43 ads analyzed, 21 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08. 3 ads from other advertisers shown separately below.
Sat, Oct 24 to Sat, Oct 31 (Mandatory start date (10th day before). Counties may start as early as Oct 19 (15th day before).)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
By mail
Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Thu, Oct 22 (5 pm on the 12th day before the election. This is the deadline for a ballot to be mailed.); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Received by 7 pm local time on Election Day; the postmark does not count)Source: dos.fl.gov ↗
$176,500–226,629 on all ads, $101,100–129,430 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
Example
“America First Conservative” — Glittering Generalities, paid for by Friends of Byron Donalds PAC
· the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
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Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 47% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
data centerin 3 ads· e.g. “Byron "Data Center" Donalds”
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Florida's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
43 ads, newest first.
Showing the 7 ads paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDA. Show all 43 ads
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-28 to 2026-09-303 variantsspend $0–297300–2,997 impressions
Let’s do the math:
🏢 AI companies want massive data centers across Florida.
💰 They’re pouring millions into electing Byron Donalds as our next governor.
📈 Floridians’ water and electric bills go up.
💸 His donors’ profits go up.
They get richer. You get the bill.
David Jolly is surging despite being massively outspent. We’re already breaking voter contact records statewide. And with November closing in, we’re doubling down.
Chip in today to help us reach more voters, fight back against corporate money, and defeat Byron “Data Center” Donalds.
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged words chosen to trigger a reaction rather than convey facts. — for example: pouring millions.
Conspiracy Appeal: Hidden plots, secret coordination, or shadowy actors invoked to explain away evidence. — for example: His donors' profits go up.
Name Calling: Derogatory labels used to discredit a person or group rather than address their arguments.
Card Stacking: The passage selectively presents a causal chain (donations → election → higher bills → donor profits) while omitting any alternative explanations or counterevidence, stacking the framing to imply corruption — for example: "Floridians' water and electric bills go up.", "His donors' profits go up.".
Appeal to Prejudice: The pronoun 'They' creates a vague out-group of wealthy elites contrasted implicitly with the reader's in-group, exploiting class resentment — for example: They get richer.
Appeal to Fear: The phrase implies the reader is being financially harmed by the unnamed 'they', creating anxiety about personal economic loss to provoke a reaction — for example: You get the bill.
Loaded Language
Conspiracy Appeal
Name Calling
Card Stacking
Appeal to Prejudice
Appeal to Fear
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-28 to 2026-09-305 variantsspend $0–495500–4,995 impressions
Big Tech thought it could buy Florida. The polls say otherwise.
Byron Donalds has spent his gubernatorial campaign collecting millions from AI companies and data center developers who want to build hyperscale data centers across Florida — the ones that guzzle water and spike your utility bill, whether you live near one or not.
But now, despite check after check, Democrat David Jolly is neck-and-neck with him in recent polling.
That shows this race is competitive, and that our organizing is working. We’ve smashed records for voter contact and door-knocking already this year, and we’re just getting started. But we need your help to keep going and hold this lead.
Will you donate $10 to the Florida Dems right now to help us stay competitive and defeat Byron “Data Center” Donalds?
Name Calling: 'Big Tech' is used as a derogatory label to frame an entire industry as a monolithic, corrupt actor attempting to subvert democracy — for example: Big Tech
Conspiracy Appeal: The phrase implies a hidden, coordinated effort by powerful tech interests to secretly purchase political influence in Florida — for example: Big Tech thought it could buy Florida
Loaded Language: The word 'buy' is emotionally charged, implying corrupt financial manipulation of a democratic process rather than neutral political spending — for example: buy Florida
Bandwagon Appeal: Citing 'the polls' implies broad popular consensus against Big Tech's efforts, suggesting the public has already decided and one should align with that majority — for example: The polls say otherwise
False Urgency: The phrase 'right now' creates artificial time pressure to prompt immediate action without deliberation — for example: right now
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'help us stay competitive' invokes in-group identity, framing the appeal as a collective effort by 'us' (Florida Democrats) against an opponent — for example: help us stay competitive
Name Calling
Conspiracy Appeal
Loaded Language
Bandwagon Appeal
False Urgency
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-28 to 2026-09-304 variantsspend $0–396400–3,996 impressions
Guess who’s bankrolling Byron Donalds’ campaign for Florida governor?
The same companies racing to build hyperscale data centers across Florida. The ones that drain local water supplies, strain the power grid, and drive up electricity bills for everyone in the state, whether you live next door to one or not.
Since launching his campaign, Donalds has pulled in millions from these AI companies and data center developers with their sights set on Florida. Nobody spends that kind of money without expecting something in return.
Here's the good news: we can defeat him before he gets the chance to sell Florida out to Big Tech.
A new poll shows Democrat David Jolly neck-and-neck with Donalds, despite his cash advantage and the AI lobby throwing everything they can at this race.
That’s because our organizing is working. We've smashed records for voter contact this year, and we’re just getting started.
We have the momentum. We just need the resources. Will you chip in $20 right now to keep Byron ”Data Center” Donalds out of the governor's mansion?
False Urgency: The phrase 'before he gets the chance' implies a narrow window of time to act, creating artificial urgency to prevent deliberation — for example: "before he gets the chance".
Loaded Language: The phrase 'sell Florida out' uses emotionally charged language implying betrayal, while 'Big Tech' is used as a villainous label to trigger a negative reaction — for example: "sell Florida out to Big Tech".
Conspiracy Appeal: The framing implies a hidden sinister arrangement between the unnamed 'him' and 'Big Tech', suggesting a shadowy deal being made behind the public's back — for example: "sell Florida out to Big Tech".
Bandwagon Appeal: Implies a growing movement with momentum to pressure the reader into joining — for example: 'We have the momentum'
Name Calling: The nickname 'Data Center' is a derogatory label used to discredit Donalds rather than engage with his policy positions — for example: 'Byron "Data Center" Donalds'
Appeal to Fear: Frames Donalds reaching the governor's mansion as a threat that must be stopped, triggering anxiety to motivate donation — for example: 'keep Byron "Data Center" Donalds out of the governor's mansion'
False Urgency
Loaded Language
Conspiracy Appeal
Bandwagon Appeal
Name Calling
Appeal to Fear
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-2225 variantsspend $5,600–8,87595,600–139,975 impressions
"Likely Republican."
That’s what Cook Political Report is now calling Florida’s governor race after previously rating it solidly Republican — because David Jolly is closing in on Byron Donalds.
We've beaten longer odds before: 46 seats flipped from red to blue since 2024, including +10 Republican districts and Trump's own Mar-a-Lago backyard.
The only thing standing between "likely" and "winning" is the money to get out our message. Donalds still outspends us 20 to 1.
Chip in now and help us finish the job.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-2222 variantsspend $300–2,4785,000–24,978 impressions
This is a big deal.
The Cook Political Report just moved Florida’s governor’s race from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”
Translation: David Jolly is putting a real scare into Byron Donalds. And it's because our organizing is working.
But here's the catch. Cook's own analyst says Jolly needs a serious financial boost to run a real statewide campaign. Right now, Donalds is sitting on a cash pile roughly 20 times the size of ours.
Will you donate to the Florida Democratic Party right now to help close the gap and make this race competitive?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-2222 variantsspend $6,700–9,678108,100–145,978 impressions
We're turning Florida back into a battleground, and it's starting to show.
The Cook Political Report just downgraded Byron Donalds' race for governor from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican,” a clear sign David Jolly's campaign is gaining ground.
But the same report has a warning for us: Donalds has raised about 10 times what Jolly has, and his cash-on-hand advantage is even bigger. Without the resources to get on TV, this opening closes fast.
With less than two months to Election Day, we're setting a goal to raise $50,000 to help Jolly reach independents and open-minded Republicans and keep this race moving in our direction.
The momentum is real. We just need the resources to use it. Will you chip in $20 now?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FLORIDAfrom 2026-09-04 to 2026-09-068 variantsspend $0–792800–7,992 impressions
The Florida Democratic Party is working to elect every Democrat on the ballot this fall.
And we just got some great news at the top of the ticket: Democrat David Jolly is STATISTICALLY TIED with Trump’s pick in the governor’s race.
We have an opportunity to break a three-decade streak of Republican rule in Florida government AND win key races that could help Democrats retake the U.S. House.
Now is our time, and Florida Democrats are united to win. Will you join us with a $20 donation right now to help us send out more mailers, turn out more voters, and combat more Republican smears?
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Now is our time' uses vague, emotionally positive language to inspire unity without substantive meaning — for example: 'Now is our time'
Bandwagon Appeal: Claiming Florida Democrats are 'united' implies broad collective momentum to pressure conformity and participation — for example: 'Florida Democrats are united to win'
False Urgency: The phrase 'right now' creates artificial time pressure to prompt an immediate donation without deliberation — for example: 'with a $20 donation right now'
Loaded Language: The term 'Republican smears' is emotionally charged language designed to trigger a negative reaction toward the opposing party — for example: 'combat more Republican smears'
Glittering Generalities
Bandwagon Appeal
False Urgency
Loaded Language
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid posts that ran in FL and name a candidate, from advertisers that aren't part of this race: news-style pages, campaigns for other offices, and others. They're shown here for completeness and not counted with the ads above. We show the same technique analysis; their claims are not checked.
Florida Daily: news-style page
Paid for by Florida Dailyfrom 2026-09-30 to 2026-10-07spend $0–993,000–3,999 impressions
Fact Check: Would David Jolly’s Insurance Plan Cost Florida Families $1,000 a Year?
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in FL and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names FL's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
The candidates are the ones certified for the November ballot, from the source linked at the top. Governors are state offices, so there are no FEC filings behind this page: no money figures, and outside groups are placed on a side only when they are a campaign or a party committee.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. The check runs once and its result is shown to everyone afterwards. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.
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