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Charles Burkett
No Party Affiliation candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Florida · Open seat
Former Mayor of Surfside, Florida; businessman
Charles Burkett is a former four-term mayor of Surfside, Florida, and was mayor during the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse. He filed on May 4, 2026, and qualified on June 8, 2026, by paying the qualifying fee. He is on the November 3 general election ballot as a No Party Affiliation candidate for governor, with Ruben A. Coto as his running mate.
Where Burkett stands
- Affordability / cost of living
- Proposes eliminating Florida's gas tax, tolls on public roads, paid highway express lanes, and permit fees for home repairs. Also proposes requiring local governments to provide water and sewer service at cost.
- Property taxes
- Proposes eliminating property taxes on homesteaded primary residences, with the benefit passing down to children.
- Property insurance
- Proposes rewriting property insurance laws to allow open competition among strong carriers and a wide range of deductibles. Would let homeowners offset the cost of approved hurricane upgrades against their property taxes.
- Auto insurance
- Proposes requiring 12-month auto insurance policies that cannot be canceled, with proof of a full year of coverage required to get or renew vehicle registration.
- Housing
- Supports repealing the Live Local Act and opposes what he calls the "Manhattanization" and over-densification of Florida communities. Favors renovation over new construction.
- Health care
- Proposes rewriting health care laws to put doctors, rather than government and insurers, in charge. Supports making 'Right to Try' laws absolute.
- Abortion
- His website says he would "affirm and codify" "My Body, My Choice." WUSF reports he told a voter guide there should be no abortion restrictions up to birth.
- Education / teacher pay
- Calls for 'real' education instead of what he calls 'factory-style' schooling, and says only great teachers should be kept.
- Business regulation / economy
- Proposes that data centers be allowed only after voters in the affected county and city approve them in a referendum. Supports economic development programs that benefit current Floridians over developers and newcomers.
- Government spending / ethics
- Proposes cutting excessive pay and pensions and limiting government jobs paying over $250,000 to two-year terms. Would require government meetings and trainings to be held by Zoom instead of travel.
Background
- Mayor of Surfside, Florida (four terms; in office during the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse)
- Businessman
- Filed for governor May 4, 2026; qualified as NPA June 8, 2026 (paid qualifying fee)
- Running mate: Ruben A. Coto
In the news
- Donalds and Jolly aren't the only candidates for Florida governor. Here's the rest of the field WUSF, October 22, 2026
Also running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
- Byron Donalds Republican
- David Jolly Democratic
- Scott Eckhard Jewett Libertarian
- Dean Ocean Abrams No Party Affiliation
- Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto No Party Affiliation
- Moliere "Moe" Dimanche No Party Affiliation
- Frank J. Russo No Party Affiliation
Sources
- Florida Division of Elections candidate record
- Burkett campaign website
- WLRN: Former Surfside mayor Charles Burkett enters Florida Governors' race (2026-05-19)
- WUSF: rest of the governor field (2026-10-22)
Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.