The governor of Florida is the head of the executive branch of Florida's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[22] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Florida Legislature,^[23] to convene the legislature,^[24] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.^[25]

When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson served as its military governor. Florida Territory was established in 1822, and five people served as governor over six distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval, served 12 years, the longest of any Florida governor to date.

Since statehood in 1845, there have been 45 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Four state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham, in two stints; and Reubin Askew, Jeb Bush, and Rick Scott who each served their terms consecutively. Bob Graham almost served two terms, as he resigned with only three days left. The shortest term in office belongs to Wayne Mixson, who served three days following the resignation of his predecessor, Bob Graham.

The current governor is Ron DeSantis, a member of the Republican Party who took office on January 8, 2019.

Spanish Florida was acquired from Spain in the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect July 10, 1821.^[26] Parts of West Florida had already been assigned to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi; the remainder and East Florida were governed by a military commissioner with the powers of governor until the territory was organized and incorporated.^[27]

Florida Territory was organized on March 30, 1822, combining East and West Florida.^[32]

The State of Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845. It seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861,^[33] and joined the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861,^[34] as a founding member. Following the end of the American Civil War, it was part of the Third Military District.^[35] Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.^[36]

The Florida Constitution of 1838 provided that a governor be elected every four years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms.^[37] The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit,^[38] but the state fell to the Union before the first election under that constitution. The rejected constitution of 1865 and the ratified constitution of 1868 maintained the four-year term,^[39][40] though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution.^[41] The current constitution of 1968 states that should the governor serve, or would have served had he not resigned, more than six years in two consecutive terms, he cannot be elected to the succeeding term.^[42] The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election,^[41] where it has remained.^[43]

Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant.^[44] The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor,^[45][46] who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty.^[47] The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor.^[48] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.^[42]

Florida was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only one candidate from the Whig party (the Democrat's chief opposition at the time).^[49] It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 90 years passed before voters chose another Republican.

There are seven living former governors of Florida, the oldest being Wayne Mixson (served 1987, born 1922). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Reubin Askew (served 1971–1979, born 1928), on March 13, 2014. The most recent-serving governor to die was Lawton Chiles (served 1991–1998, born 1930), who died while still in office on December 12, 1998.

The living former governors, in order of service, are:

Since 2003, the line of succession to the office of governor has been as follows:^[62]

Whenever the governor is unable or unwilling to discharge the office, either temporarily or permanently, the lieutenant governor takes over all the duties of the governorship either until the governor is able to resume the office or until the next election. At any time that the governor is on trial for impeachment, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor. Additionally, at any time that three members of the cabinet and the chief justice of the Supreme Court agree on the governor's mental or physical unfitness for office, they may suspend and reinstate the governor, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution.

If a vacancy occurs in the office of governor and a successor within the above-stated line of succession can not fill the vacancy, the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and the president of the Senate must convene the Legislature by joint proclamation within 15 days for the purpose of choosing a person to serve as governor for the remainder of the term. A successor can only be chosen by a majority vote in a joint session of both houses.^[63]

If, after the appointment of a lieutenant governor, a vacancy occurs in the office of governor with more than 28 months remaining in the term and the appointed lieutenant governor becomes governor, voters must choose a governor and lieutenant governor to serve out the remainder of the terms at the next general election.^[63]