Charles
Burkett
Four-time Surfside mayor Charles Burkett runs for Florida governor in 2026 as a No Party Affiliation candidate.
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- positions
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Background
Charles W. Burkett is a No Party Affiliation candidate for governor of Florida in the November 3, 2026 general election. He was born and raised in Miami Beach and moved to Surfside in 1996. He holds a BS in finance from the University of Miami and attended The Cushman School, St. Patrick's School, and Archbishop Curley High School. 1210
Burkett served four terms as mayor of Surfside: 2006–2008, 2008–2010, 2020–2022, and 2024–2026, having first run unsuccessfully for the office in 2004. His campaign biography describes his mayoral service as complete as of the 2026 race. 129
Before entering politics, Burkett worked as a construction-site laborer and used his savings to purchase his first property in 1983. He subsequently built a real-estate investment and management business that expanded into seven additional states; his campaign biography states he currently operates a national investment company he owns. 2
Burkett filed as a candidate with Florida's Division of Elections on May 4, 2026, and was formally qualified on June 8, 2026. He publicly announced his candidacy on May 19, 2026, running with No Party Affiliation. 110
At a glance
- Party
- No Party Affiliation
- Running for
- Governor, Florida
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- burkettforgov.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 11filingBurkett/Coto listed as NPA governor ticket in local election guides across Florida
Local election guides published or updated between September 24 and October 11, 2026, including Patch's Pinellas County guide, listed Charles Burkett and Ruben Coto as the No Party Affiliation ticket on the November 3 general election ballot.
2026 Pinellas County Election Guide: What's On The Ballot · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21newsBurkett tells WJNO he opposes data centers, defends NPA status in interview
In a WJNO interview, Burkett said he opposed data centers and that any county considering one should let voters decide by referendum. He explained his non-party approach by saying he takes ideas 'from all the sources,' and confirmed Ruben Coto as his running mate.
NPA Candidate For Governor Charles Burkett Says He's 'In It To Win It' · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21newsBurkett positions himself as alternative to Donalds and Jolly, attacks both opponents
In the same WJNO interview, Burkett characterized himself as Donalds without what he called Donalds's 'baggage and being bought and paid for,' and Jolly without a 'sellout to the woke, hard Left fanatics.' WJNO also noted that Gov. DeSantis had endorsed Republican Byron Donalds, not Burkett.
NPA Candidate For Governor Charles Burkett Says He's 'In It To Win It' · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 12filingBurkett qualifies for Florida general election ballot before June 12 deadline
A voter guide reported that Burkett qualified before Florida's June 12 candidate-qualifying deadline. The Division of Elections list showed him and running mate Surfside Commissioner Ruben Coto among the general-election candidates.
Florida governor's race — 2026 candidates | Ballot Explained · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 20newsCharles Burkett announces NPA candidacy for Florida governor
A Florida Newswire press release reported Burkett announced his run as a no-party-affiliation candidate for governor, describing his focus as putting 'current Florida residents first.'
Surfside Archives · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 5
- [1] Florida governor's race — 2026 candidates | Ballot Explained(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [2] 2026 Pinellas County Election Guide: What's On The Ballot(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [3] Surfside Archives(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [4] Charles Burkett(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
- [5] NPA Candidate For Governor Charles Burkett Says He's 'In It To Win It'(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026