Florida law puts Republicans first on 2026 ballots due to last governor's win

Florida law assigns the top spot on election ballots to candidates from the party that won the most recent governor's race, according to Central Florida Public Media. This means Republicans will be listed first on the 2026 ballot because Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, won reelection in 2022.

The ballot ordering rule dates back 75 years to 1951, when Democrats controlled the state and Republicans were a minority in the Legislature. Since then, the party of the winning governor has consistently been given the top ballot position, benefiting Republicans for more than 25 years as candidates like Rick Scott, Charlie Crist, and Jeb Bush won as Republicans.

Researchers say this placement can provide an advantage due to the primacy effect, where voters are more likely to select candidates listed first. National Democratic groups and some Florida voters challenged the law in 2018, arguing it creates an unfair electoral advantage for the governor's party.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Republican Governors Association defended the law, stating any advantage from ballot position is minimal. A federal judge initially ruled in favor of the Democrats, but an appeals court later dismissed the case, citing lack of legal standing and political questions beyond judicial reach.

Similar legal disputes have occurred in other states, such as West Virginia, where ballot order is based on the party of the presidential candidate who won the state. These cases highlight ongoing debates about ballot fairness and election laws in Florida and nationwide.