Miami-Dade County voters are choosing Florida's next governor on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly heading a 10-ticket ballot to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot run again after two consecutive terms.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Eastern. Voters in line at that time can still cast a ballot, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Anyone voting in person on Election Day must report to their assigned precinct, Local 10 reported. Precinct information is available at VoteMiamiDade.gov.

More than 5.4 million Floridians had already voted early or by mail as of 8 a.m. Nov. 3, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. That is about 40% of the state's 13.7 million registered voters.

The governor's race is one of several contests on the Miami-Dade ballot. Aventura voters will also choose between Howard S. Weinberg and Alberto Zaltzberg for mayor, according to the county's official ballot.

The major-party tickets

Donalds-Avila (Republican): Donalds represents Southwest Florida's 19th Congressional District, a seat he has held since 2021, according to candidate records. He previously served in the Florida House from 2016 to 2020. His running mate, Bryan Ávila, left his Florida state Senate seat to join the ticket, the Independent Florida Alligator's voter guide reported.

Ávila represented Senate District 39, which covers parts of western and northwestern Miami-Dade, including Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens and Miami Lakes, NBC Miami reported. Born in Hialeah, Ávila is a Miami Springs Senior High graduate who holds degrees from Miami Dade College, the University of Miami and Florida International University, according to Florida Politics.

If elected, Donalds would be the first Black governor in Florida history, the Alligator reported. President Donald Trump has endorsed Donalds.

Jolly-Graham (Democratic): Jolly served in the U.S. House from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican. He left the party in September 2018, co-founded the Forward Party in 2022 and registered as a Democrat in April 2025, according to biographical records. His running mate, Gwen Graham, served in the U.S. House from 2015 to 2017 and later held a post at the U.S. Department of Education. She was born in Miami Lakes and is the daughter of former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, ClickOrlando reported. Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Jolly.

A New York Times/Siena Research Institute poll conducted Oct. 19–25 showed Donalds at 48% and Jolly at 44%, the Alligator reported.

Property insurance

Both candidates call homeowners insurance a top affordability issue but disagree on how to fix it, according to a Sun Sentinel comparison published Oct. 20.

Donalds said he wants to preserve the 2022 and 2023 insurance reforms, increase private-market competition, expand home-hardening grants and cut rebuilding costs through permitting reform. He told the Sun Sentinel his goal is to bring costs down another 20% to 25%.

Jolly proposed creating a state-backed catastrophe fund to carry hurricane and wind risk, with private insurers handling other coverage. His campaign has claimed the plan could cut premiums 60% to 70%. That estimate has not been established through an independent actuarial analysis, according to a Lower Mortgage policy comparison published Oct. 30. The Alligator also noted that a PolitiFact investigation found insurance experts doubt the fund would save homeowners in the long run.

Both plans would require approval from the Florida Legislature, the Lower Mortgage analysis noted.

Amendment 3 and local stakes

Donalds supports Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead property tax exemption. The measure would raise the exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, the Miami Times reported.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has raised concerns about the proposal, according to Local 10. The county estimates it would collect $385.8 million less in property tax revenue in the first year and $696.7 million less the year after, the Miami Times reported. Levine Cava said the cut would affect police, fire rescue, parks and infrastructure.

The amendment needs 60% to pass. A St. Pete Polls survey cited by the Miami Times had it at 44% support, with 39% opposed and 17% undecided.

Jolly lists affordability, education and a pause on data center development as his top priorities. He has proposed a 10-year plan to increase public school investment, including raising teacher pay by 30%, according to candidate records. He has promised an immediate one-year moratorium on data centers if elected. He also plans to expand Medicaid, the Alligator reported.

Donalds lists affordability, education and law and order as his top three priorities. On education, he supports school choice, an expansion of private school vouchers and early literacy programs. He has also proposed a building-permit "shot clock" to speed approvals.

A nearby name on the ballot

Among the eight additional qualified tickets beyond Donalds and Jolly on the state's certified list, one carries a familiar name for South Florida residents. Charles Burkett, a four-term former mayor of Surfside, is running with no party affiliation alongside running mate Ruben A. Coto. Burkett was Surfside's mayor during the Champlain Towers South collapse in June 2021, WJNO reported.

Scott Jewett (Libertarian Party of Florida) has said fixing homeowners insurance would be his top priority, according to The Floridian. Detailed policy positions for the remaining minor-party and independent candidates were not available.

Gov. DeSantis leaves office Jan. 5, 2027. Voters need a current, valid photo ID with signature. Acceptable forms include a Florida driver's license, Florida ID card, U.S. passport or military ID. Results will be posted on the Florida Department of State's election results page.