Florida voters will have more than two political parties represented in the 2026 race for governor.
Scott Eckhard Jewett is the Libertarian Party of Florida candidate for governor in the November 3, 2026 general election. His running mate is Nicole Skelly.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, Jewett filed for the office on July 12, 2023, qualified on June 10, 2026 by paying the qualifying fee, and was unopposed for the Libertarian nomination. He therefore advanced to the general election without a Libertarian primary contest.
The Basics
Candidate
Scott Eckhard Jewett
Office
Governor of Florida
Party
Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF)
Running Mate
Nicole Skelly
Libertarian Primary
Unopposed
Qualifying Method
Paid qualifying fee
These details are confirmed by the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections.
Who Is Scott Jewett?
Jewett's professional background is primarily in business, franchising and consulting. BallotReady lists his experience as co-founder of Unicorn Franchising (2025–26); co-founder of FileBank (2025); lead investigator with Wisp Energy (2022–25); CEO of Pinspiration Franchise Group (2018–25); and senior advisor with iFranchise Group (2006–26). BallotReady also reports he earned an MBA from San Diego State University in 1986.
The national Libertarian Party describes him as having approximately a decade of government experience, although its public candidate biography does not provide a detailed accounting of those government positions.
What Does He Say He Stands For?
Jewett has described his approach as "Libertarian 2.0." In material published by the Libertarian Party of Hillsborough County, he says his approach combines Democratic social values, Republican economic principles and broader American principles. That is Jewett's characterization of his own philosophy, rather than an independent classification of his ideology.
The national Libertarian Party says his agenda emphasizes economic growth and living-wage employment, expanded educational opportunities, public safety and Second Amendment rights.
Homeowners Insurance
Property insurance is one of the issues Jewett has placed prominently in his campaign. The Libertarian Party of Florida has described homeowners-insurance reform as a central issue, and Libertarian organizations promoting his candidacy have circulated a dedicated discussion by Jewett on the topic.
For voters evaluating this position, an important distinction is between identifying Florida's insurance affordability problem and evaluating the specific governmental actions Jewett proposes to address it.
Economy
Jewett presents himself as fiscally conservative and has emphasized creating an environment that produces more living-wage jobs. His messaging broadly reflects the Libertarian philosophy: a smaller governmental role in the economy, lower regulatory barriers, greater reliance on markets and stronger protection of private property.
LPF PlatformThe Libertarian Party of Florida platform calls for ending federal grants to state and local governments while reducing federal taxation correspondingly, arguing public projects should generally be funded locally. Distinguish Jewett's personal proposals from party planks unless he has expressly adopted a plank as his own.
Health Care
Publicly compiled information on Jewett's positions indicates support for reducing government regulation of health care, increasing competition among insurers, expanding price transparency and allowing consumers greater freedom in purchasing insurance.
LPF PlatformThe party platform states individuals should determine their own health-care needs and treatment, and that government should not interfere in the practitioner-patient relationship. Party-platform language should not automatically be attributed to Jewett personally without a corresponding statement from the candidate.
Education
Education is included among the priorities in Jewett's official Libertarian biography. Libertarian philosophy places substantial emphasis on parental control and school choice.
LPF PlatformThe party platform takes strong positions here, including opposition to compulsory-schooling and truancy laws and support for parents choosing among public, private, alternative and home-school arrangements. These are official party positions and should not be represented as Jewett's personal position unless he has specifically adopted them.
Second Amendment
Jewett publicly supports the Second Amendment. His Libertarian biography describes him as supporting responsible gun ownership as a fundamental right, and public descriptions of his position also indicate support for background checks and education intended to promote responsible ownership.
LPF PlatformThe party platform goes considerably further — supporting open carry and constitutional carry and opposing government restrictions on weapons, ammunition and accessories except those imposed by private property owners. The distinction between Jewett's stated position and the party platform is important.
Civil Liberties & Government Power
LPF PlatformThe Florida party platform supports broad governmental transparency, applying Sunshine laws to public employees, the ability of citizens to record public officials (including law enforcement) performing public duties, and reducing governmental immunity from civil liability. These positions provide context for the organization under whose banner Jewett is running.
Immigration
LPF PlatformThe Libertarian Party of Florida platform opposes using Florida state and local employees to enforce federal immigration laws, and opposes requiring state and local authorities to participate in federal immigration enforcement. Voters seeking Jewett's individual position should look for direct statements from the candidate before assuming complete agreement.
Energy
Jewett has publicly promoted advanced nuclear energy, including thorium technology, as part of Florida's future energy strategy. His argument centers on producing reliable energy while reducing vulnerability to disruptions and strengthening Florida's energy independence.
Public Safety
Public safety is one of the priorities in Jewett's Libertarian biography. The broader Florida Libertarian platform simultaneously emphasizes restrictions on governmental power, transparency in policing and greater individual liberty. That illustrates a central question voters may want to explore with Jewett: how his administration would balance a commitment to public safety with the Libertarian commitment to limiting state authority.
What About Abortion?
Sourcing NoteLibertarians nationally have historically included people with differing views on abortion, and the issue does not fit neatly into traditional party categories. Black Over Blue has not located sufficiently clear primary-source material establishing a detailed 2026 Jewett abortion policy — on Florida's existing restrictions, gestational limits, exceptions, or whether he would sign or veto legislation changing current law. Until the candidate provides a sufficiently specific position, we will not assign one to him.
Campaign Finance & Compliance Records
Jewett's Florida Division of Elections file contains his candidate filings, financial disclosure and campaign documents. The state database also contains campaign-compliance correspondence, including audit letters, fine notices and responses concerning fine payments. The existence of such documents should not, by itself, be characterized as evidence of misconduct. Voters who want to examine the record can review the original documents through the Florida Division of Elections rather than relying on political characterizations of them.
The 2026 Ballot
Jewett is not running as an independent or No Party Affiliation candidate. He is the nominee of an organized political party: the Libertarian Party of Florida. The Florida Division of Elections currently lists the party-nominee tickets as:
Byron Donalds / Bryan AvilaRepublican
David Jolly / Gwen GrahamDemocratic
Scott Eckhard Jewett / Nicole SkellyLibertarian
Desmond MeadeNPA — Withdrew Aug. 27, 2026
The state also lists additional qualified No Party Affiliation and write-in candidates. With Meade's withdrawal, the Governor's race is now, in practical terms, a contest among Donalds (R), Jolly (D) and Jewett (Libertarian) — alongside the remaining minor and write-in candidates.
Why His Candidacy Matters to Understanding the Ballot
Whether a voter agrees or disagrees with Jewett is a separate question from understanding that his candidacy exists. The Florida governor's race is not simply a choice between a Republican and a Democrat — Florida's official records show Libertarian, NPA and write-in candidates qualified for the general election as well.
Black Over Blue's purpose is not to tell voters which of those choices to make. It is to make sure voters know the choices exist and have enough reliable information to examine them.
Questions We Still Want Answered
As additional candidate statements become available, Black Over Blue will keep looking for detailed answers from Jewett on:
- His specific plan for reducing homeowners-insurance premiums and stabilizing the market.
- His position on Florida's current abortion law and what legislation he would sign or veto.
- His approach to Medicaid and health-care affordability.
- His specific education budget and public-school funding proposals.
- His positions on DEI programs and Florida's recent changes involving race, history and higher education.
- His position on LGBTQ+ rights and existing Florida legislation.
- His proposed approach to immigration enforcement in Florida.
- His criminal-justice and policing policies.
- His approach to affordable housing and Florida's housing shortage.
- His plans concerning property taxes and state spending.
- His position on environmental protection, Everglades restoration and development.
- His plans for Florida's universities.
- His position on voting rights, restoration of rights and election administration.
- How "Libertarian 2.0" would differ in practice from both traditional Libertarian politics and the major-party candidates.
Those are not accusations or criticisms. They are questions voters are entitled to have answered by anyone asking to become governor.
Black Over Blue Bottom Line
Scott Jewett is running for Governor of Florida. He is qualified. He will appear on the 2026 general-election ballot as the Libertarian candidate.
That does not mean Black Over Blue endorses him. It does not mean Black Over Blue opposes him. It means he is one of the choices Florida voters will have before them.
Know who is running.
Know what they actually said.
Know what they actually proposed.
Know the difference between a candidate's position and a party's position.
Then make your own decision.
Stop. Analyze. Strategize. Unite.
Sources: Florida Department of State, Division of Elections (candidate filings and qualifying records); Ballotpedia; BallotReady; Libertarian Party (lp.org) and Libertarian Party of Florida (lpf.org) candidate materials and platform. This profile is for educational purposes and does not endorse or oppose any candidate. Confirm the current candidate field and each candidate's stated positions directly with official sources and the campaigns before voting. Check your registration at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
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