Orange County Mayor Suspends Governor Campaign After Cancer

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspended his campaign for Florida governor on Friday after announcing he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The decision, which he called difficult, was revealed following his final State of the County address.

Demings said doctors confirmed the diagnosis on Monday and that he shared the news with his family on Thursday. He stated he is stepping off the campaign trail to focus on his health and treatment but intends to complete his current term as mayor, which expires in November. He was joined at the announcement by his wife, former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, and other family members.

His departure reshapes the Democratic primary, leaving former Republican Congressman David Jolly as the party's most prominent remaining contender. Demings was one of only two Democrats who had been polling competitively against the likely Republican nominee, Congressman Byron Donalds, in recent independent surveys.

Multiple polls this spring showed the governor's race potentially competitive. In hypothetical matchups, both Democrats trailed Donalds but kept the margin within single digits. Those surveys indicated Demings performed slightly better than Jolly...