Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced Friday he is suspending his campaign for governor after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Democrat delivered the news following his final State of the County address, stating doctors confirmed the diagnosis on Monday and he shared the update with family Thursday.
Demings emphasized he will pursue treatment and remain committed to his current role as Orange County’s mayor. He added plans to spend the next six months “running through the finish line” in his position overseeing more than 8,000 employees and a $7 billion budget.
Demings was sworn in as Orange County’s fifth elected mayor on December 4, 2018, and re-elected in 2022. He is the first African American to hold the office. His administration has prioritized affordable housing through initiatives like the 2019 Housing for All Task Force and a $160 million Housing Trust Fund established in 2020.
Previously serving as Orlando’s first African American police chief in 1998, Demings later became Orange County’s first African American sheriff in 2008—winning re-election in 2012 and 2016.
With David Jolly remaining in the Democratic primary, the race now features a diminished field after Demings’ withdrawal. Republicans retain momentum with Byron Donalds as a major candidate endorsed by President Trump. Florida has consistently trended red, and the Republican advantage solidified following the shift.