The Truth About Scott Jewett For Florida Governor 2026
Article by Karl Dickey | Palm Beach Examiner
Florida voters will elect a new governor on November 3, 2026. Because the full general-election ballot isn’t set until after the August 18 primaries, a complete candidate by candidate analysis will have to wait until then.
In the meantime, several candidates are already locked onto the November ballot and their names will appear regardless of the primary results:
- One Libertarian Party candidate: Scott Jewett of Palm Beach County
- The eventual Democratic and Republican nominees (still to be chosen in the August 18 primaries)
- Six independent candidates who have no party affiliation
These non major party candidates have already qualified, and their names will appear on the general election ballot alongside the Democratic and Republican nominees. I for one, am glad the two old parties have a bit of competition. I only wish the mainstream media would cover all qualified candidates equally.
Scott Jewett brands his 2026 Florida Governor campaign as “Humanitarian Libertarianism.” He seeks to combine Republican economic principles with Democratic social values. Jewett said, “I’ve watched both parties spend years perfecting the art of the fight and forgetting the work of governing. Floridians aren’t asking for more outrage. They’re asking whether their kids can afford a house here, whether their insurance will hold, whether anyone’s actually steering. I’m running because those questions deserve an answer.”
Jewett wants the government to stay out of abortion decisions. He leaves this choice to individuals and their doctors. This aligns with the Libertarian principle of bodily autonomy. Jewett also insists on zero government involvement in religion. He views faith as a strict personal choice. This matches the Libertarian demand for the separation of church and state. Jewett pledges to reduce government spending and lower taxation.
He restricts the core government role to defending the nation and protecting personal freedoms. I also like that he is a strong defender of the Second Amendment. This mirrors the Libertarian goal of a minimal state footprint. Jewett attacks both Republicans and Democrats for encroaching on citizen freedoms. He positions his campaign as a defense against two-party state control. This echoes the core Libertarian critique of the political duopoly.
He has also stated, “Government should serve as a protector of personal freedoms, a lifeline for the disadvantaged, and a shield for national defense, while respecting individual autonomy in all other aspects of life. As your Governor, I will commit to reducing unnecessary government spending and taxation.”
There are a few areas where Jewett diverges from traditional Libertarian Party principles, and perhaps that will appeal to a wider audience, I don’t know. Jewett states he wants to increase personal accountability without disrupting needed social programs. The Libertarian Party platform calls for the phase out of government welfare. True freedom relies on voluntary charity, rather than via government force.
He also plans to regulate private industry, promising to intervene in the Florida homeowner insurance market. He wants to stop companies from using contracts he deems unfair. Libertarians believe in free markets and voluntary contracts. State regulation of the insurance market could contradict with minimal government interference. And the masses seem to be clamoring for the government to do something about the cost of insurance in Florida.
Lastly, he distances himself from the party base. He calls historical Libertarian goals too extreme. He signals a willingness to compromise the non aggression principle to appeal to voters. He commits to reducing taxes while seeking to keep the current tax structure intact to fund social programs.
All that said, even with these three deviations from the LP, I will most likely be voting for him in November, as he would definitely be a better governor than Byron Donalds or David Jolly on the freedom I seek here in Florida. Jewett aligns with the Libertarian Party on keeping the government out of medical decisions, gun rights, and religious freedom. Economically, he pitches centrism over Libertarianism.
Jewitt added, “This race isn’t about which party is worse. It’s about the fact that neither one is offering Floridians a plan. We’ve been handed division when we asked for direction, and talking points when we asked for the truth. I’m running to give this state something to build toward instead of something to be angry about.”
So, as the 2026 Florida gubernatorial campaigns move forward, we’ll have much more to discuss after the August 18, 2026, primary.