Thus, the top two Democrat candidates – incumbent Governor of Florida William "Haydon" Burns and Mayor of Miami Robert King High – competed in a runoff election on May 24, 1966.

However, by March 1966, the Governor's approval rating fell to 56%, due to Burns' alleged dishonesty, lack of integrity, and showing favoritism.

In that same "confidential" poll Robert High surprisingly led Haydon Burns by 34%-28.5%, while Scott Kelly received 18.5% and 19% were left undecided.

Additionally, it was speculated that former governor Thomas "LeRoy" Collins would also challenge Burns in the primary,[4] but instead ran for United States Senate in 1968.

[5] Eventually a fourth person, Tallahassee publisher Sam Foor, decided to enter the race, though he was not considered a "serious contender".

[7] After a bitter Democratic primary election, defeated incumbent governor Haydon Burns refused to endorse nominee Robert High.

Republican nominee Claude Kirk promised to veto new taxes and abolish a program calling for several millions of dollars in additional taxation.