Desmond Meade is running as a Non-Party Affiliated Candidate for Florida Governor in 2026
Desmond Meade is running as a Non-Party Affiliated Candidate for Florida Governor in 2026
Desmond Meade is running as a Non-Party Affiliated Candidate for Florida Governor in 2026

Desmond Meade is running with No Party Affiliation to build an affordable Florida for everyday people, not special interests.

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Desmond's Vision

Government should work for people, not politicians.

Too often political disagreements have overshadowed the people’s priorities.

Desmond's Commitments:

  1. Lower Costs for Florida Families

    Bring down the cost of living by addressing housing affordability, rising property insurance costs, high healthcare expenses, and lower taxes.

  2. Stronger Schools, Stronger Future

    Ensure every child in Florida has access to high-quality education, well-supported teachers, and real opportunity to succeed.

  3. Safer Communities

    Proven solutions that keep neighborhoods safe, build community trust, and prevent crime.

  4. An Economy that Works for People

    Support policies that create good-paying jobs, help small businesses grow, and ensure corporations contribute to our communities.

  5. Accountability in Government

    Demand a government that answers to the people — not special interests — delivers real results in people's lives, and puts results ahead of politics and parties.

Meet Desmond

Meet Desmond

Desmond Meade is not a politician.

Desmond Meade is a globally respected civil rights leader, voting rights advocate, author, and community organizer. He has been honored as Central Floridian of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel and Floridian of the Year by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. Desmond is also a MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient. Under his leadership, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition earned a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Desmond’s life experience is deeply connected to the very systems he aims to reform. Having overcome homelessness, addiction, and the collateral consequences of a past conviction, he understands firsthand the challenges facing Floridians; from housing and healthcare to community safety and education.

For more than two decades since his release, Desmond has devoted himself to serving his community and the people of Florida. He has worked to reduce homelessness and advocated for the use of gun violence reduction programs in several counties in Florida. He is a motivational speaker, mentor, and a voice for the voiceless.

Desmond also knows how to build winning coalitions across Florida’s diverse communities and political landscapes. In 2018, he led a successful grassroots effort that restored voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with past convictions—the largest expansion of voting rights in the U.S. in decades. From that victory, he learned that when we come together and lead with love instead of division, we can accomplish anything.

Now, as a Non-Party Affiliated candidate for Governor, Desmond wants to continue to prioritize the needs of everyday Floridians, and place people over partisan politics.

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A Tireless Advocate
A Proven Leader

Desmond has spent his life advocating for the people of Florida, and he has a proven record of getting results.

Restoring Voting Rights for 1.4 Million Floridians

Desmond led the passage of Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians, the largest expansion of the franchise in the United States in half a century. Amendment 4 passed with 64% of the vote in 2018, bringing together a broad grassroots coalition from all political persuasions to support dignity and redemption.

See the Impact

Working Across Partisan Lines to Solve Problems

Desmond has a long track record of working with both parties to pass legislation like licensing reform and eliminating barriers to employment. He has also seen the impact of the current Governor's Office choosing common sense solutions to improve our economy and expand our workforce.

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Buoying the Courts, Restoring the Vote

Under Desmond, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition worked to ensure the implementation of Amendment 4 by paying fines and fees that were blocking ballot access. This buoyed several county court systems that were underwater during the pandemic. Restoring voting rights is associated with recidivism, making us safer.

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Recognized for Leadership and Serving People

Desmond has a street named after him in Dade County, a day in his honor in Orange and Dade county, has been recognized as Floridian of the Year and Central Floridian of the Year, part of the TIME 100, and a MacArthur Genius. His organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the group who nominated MLK.

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Law Graduate and Lifetime Advocate for Justice

Desmond graduated from Florida International University College of Law even though he could not sit for the bar to practice law. He has spent his life advocating to ensure justice for all and a society based on love, respect, and finding common ground rather than division and fear.

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Desmond Meade and the team at the railroad tracks