NEW YORK, United States — As Americans prepare to vote in midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at least four candidates in three states with Jamaican connections will face the electorate.

Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, is vying to be governor of that state; Democrat Wes Moore, the incumbent governor of Maryland, is seeking a second term; New York Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke is contesting that seat; while Denise Grant will be seeking a second term as mayor for the city of Lauderhill in Florida.

Donald’s mother, Meredith Brown, is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants; Moore’s mother, Joy Thomas Moore, is from Trelawny, and his maternal grandfather, James Thomas, also hailed from Jamaica.

Clarke’s mother is the famed Una Clarke, who spent several years as a member of the New York City Council and became known as a strong advocate for Jamaican and Caribbean nationals in New York.

DONALDS… vying to become governor of Florida

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke has been representing New York’s 9th congressional district since 2013, after previously representing the 11th district from 2007 before boundary changes.

Clarke, who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, has also emerged as a strong advocate for Jamaican and Caribbean causes in the US Congress.

In Florida, Donalds is locked in a competitive race with Democrat David Jolly. If Donalds is successful he would be the first black governor of Florida.

He has built his campaign around affordability, citing the need to lower taxes, improve health care, education, and reduce bureaucracy to help spur Florida’s economy.

CLARKE…contesting New York’s 9th congressional district seat

Moore, who is currently the only black governor in the US, has focused much of his campaign on raising wages, creating jobs, and boosting opportunities for farmers in the state who have been hard hit by effects of tariffs imposed on imports by the US, and the cost of fertiliser and diesel.

Moore is also seen in some quarters as a potential candidate for president in the 2028 presidential election, even though he has stated that he has no interest in that race.

Jamaican-born Grant launched her re-election bid on September 3, 2026, with an appeal to voters to allow her to continue what she has described as unfinished work. She has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving conditions for seniors in Lauderhill, where Jamaicans account for a sizeable number of the population.

GRANT…seeking a second term as mayor for the city of Lauderhill in Florida

Though Donalds is facing the most competitive race of the four candidates with a Jamaican connection, he remains favourite to win and join Moore, who is heavily favoured to win re-election.

While the contest in Georgia’s 7th congressional district has no direct connection with Jamaica, many people in the Jamaican community here have taken a keen interest in that race between immigration attorney Tony Kozycki, a Democrat, and Republican incumbent Rich McCormick.

Kozycki previously told the Jamaica Observer that he was “inspired to run for Congress because of the deportation of Godfrey Wade”, the Jamaican-born US army veteran who was residing in the US legally for 50 years and had been honourably discharged from the army.

Kozycki, who represented Wade, said then that he was unhappy that Wade was not given his day in court before being deported. His law firm, Kozycki Law LLC, drafted a private member’s Bill which he believes can help in the process and get a fair hearing for people like Wade.