The 2026 Florida governor’s race is heating up fast.
One Republican candidate is pulling ahead in ways nobody expected.
And Byron Donalds just got caught in one scandal that has Democrats fuming.
Trump’s endorsement changes everything in Florida
The political landscape in Florida shifted dramatically back in February when President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Congressman Byron Donalds for governor.
It wasn’t a subtle hint or lukewarm support.
Trump went all-in with a Truth Social post that left no doubt about his choice.
“Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump posted in February.¹
“RUN, BYRON, RUN!” he added.
That endorsement sent shockwaves through the political establishment in Tallahassee five months ago.
Democrats thought they had a clear path to victory against whoever emerged from what they expected to be a messy Republican primary.
But Trump’s backing of Donalds changed all the math months ago.
Recent polling shows just how much that February endorsement continues to matter in the Sunshine State.
Donalds crushes potential competition in new polls
The numbers don’t lie about Byron Donalds’ surge in the Florida governor’s race.
A St. Pete Polls survey conducted July 8-10 showed Donalds securing about 35 percent support among likely Republican primary voters.²
His closest competitor? Casey DeSantis, the current first lady who’s been floating a potential run, came in at roughly 27 percent.
But here’s where it gets really interesting for Donalds.
When the pollsters asked about a hypothetical matchup where Trump endorsed Donalds, his support shot up to more than 49 percent.
Casey DeSantis, even with her husband’s backing, could only manage just over 21 percent.
That’s not a close race – that’s a political beatdown.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and former state House Speaker Paul Renner didn’t even register, each pulling less than 4 percent support.
The margin of error was plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, meaning Donalds’ lead is real and substantial.
The Trump factor dominates Florida politics
Political science professor Sean Foreman from Barry University didn’t mince words about what’s happening in Florida.
“Donalds having the Trump endorsement already secure and riding the wave of the MAGA agenda and the Big Beautiful Bill through Congress—he is really solidifying his spot as the Republican nominee in the shadow campaign,” Foreman told Newsweek.³
Foreman called Trump the “king of Florida politics” and explained how that endorsement gives Donalds massive advantages.
The congressman from Southwest Florida might not be well-known statewide yet, but Trump’s February backing changed everything.
“What could hurt Donalds is if eventually something happens and there’s a rift and Trump pulls the endorsement,” Foreman added. “Donalds is untested, he’s still widely unknown. He’s still a relatively new lawmaker not known outside of Southwest Florida very much, except for the Fox News crowd.”
But that doesn’t seem likely to happen.
Trump and Donalds have built a solid relationship, and the President clearly sees the congressman as someone who can carry the America First message in Florida.
Casey DeSantis running out of time
The clock is ticking for Casey DeSantis to make her decision about jumping into the race.
Professor Foreman was blunt about her situation.
“I think the ship has almost sailed on Casey DeSantis before her run for governor started, and she’s really got to make that decision now or it’s over,” he said.⁴
The longer she waits, the more Donalds can consolidate support and build his campaign infrastructure.
“She’s never run for anything and she’s been pretty quiet, especially since her cancer situation [she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021],” Foreman noted. “So, that campaign isn’t looking as promising as it once was.”
Casey DeSantis has been dealing with health challenges and has stayed largely out of the public eye.
Meanwhile, Donalds has been building momentum with Trump’s endorsement and regular appearances on Fox News.
The contrast couldn’t be starker.
Donalds lays out his vision for Florida
Byron Donalds isn’t just running on Trump’s endorsement.
He’s got a clear vision for taking Florida to the next level.
“It’s a vision about taking our state to the next level. We’re blessed to live in the best state in America,” Donalds told Breitbart News during an interview at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit.⁵
“We have great leadership in our state.”
Donalds wants to build on Governor Ron DeSantis’ success, not tear it down.
“Governor DeSantis has led our state tremendously, and now it’s taking all that success and then now building upon it,” he explained.
His agenda focuses on transportation, insurance reform, and making Florida the financial capital of the world.
“What are we going to do about the future of transportation in our state, making sure it’s easier for our citizens to move through our cities and move to the states. Insurance. We have to continue to do everything we can to drive prices low,” Donalds said.
A revolution in space and technology
“If you look north in our state, with what’s going on at Cape Canaveral, we’re doing all the space launches in America are happening here in Florida,” he said.⁶
He envisions Florida as a “tech” and “aerospace” hub while bringing manufacturing to North Florida.
“It’s a bold agenda, but it’s really about the future of our state, the future economic prospects, and making sure that we have a more diversified economy for young people who are going to college in our state, growing their families in our state,” Donalds explained.
DeSantis and Donalds
Many are wondering if DeSantis will endorse Byron Donalds.
Some political insiders think DeSantis might be holding back because of rumors about his wife’s potential candidacy.
Others point to the fact that Donalds endorsed Trump early in the 2024 presidential race, which might have created some tension.
But Donalds is keeping the door open.
“And we’ll continue to work to try to make that happen,” he said about earning DeSantis’ support. “But [I’m] really honored to have the endorsement of President Trump.”⁷
He described Trump as a “friend and a real supporter” while expressing hope for the governor’s backing.
“Would love to have the governor’s endorsement as well. And so we’ll see how it goes,” Donalds said. “It’s still relatively early. It was like a whole other year to go before we even get to the heat of the primary campaign, but we’re going to continue to work on it.”
The Florida GOP gubernatorial primary is scheduled for August 18, 2026.
As of now, Donalds is the only prominent Republican to officially announce his candidacy.
With Trump’s endorsement and strong polling numbers, he’s positioned to be the frontrunner in what should be a competitive race.
Democrats are already panicking about facing a Trump-endorsed candidate in a state that’s been trending more Republican in recent years.
Byron Donalds might just be the candidate who can keep Florida firmly in Republican hands for another four years.
¹ Donald Trump, Truth Social post, February 2025.
² St. Pete Polls, “Florida Politics Poll,” July 8-10, 2025.
³ Sean Foreman, Newsweek interview, July 15, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Hannah Knudsen, “Exclusive — Rep. Byron Donalds on Gubernatorial Run: Vision Is to Take Florida ‘To the Next Level’,” Breitbart News, July 15, 2025.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
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Author: rgcory
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