Byron Donalds just got the one endorsement that left his rivals shell-shocked

A major political earthquake just rocked the Sunshine State.

The 2026 Florida governor’s race is heating up in ways nobody saw coming.

And Byron Donalds just got the one endorsement that left his rivals shell-shocked.

Trump’s golden ticket changes everything

The race to replace term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis took a dramatic turn when President Donald Trump dropped his bombshell endorsement of U.S. Representative Byron Donalds in February.

Trump’s backing has proven to be political gold in Florida Republican politics.

His endorsement propelled DeSantis himself to the Governor’s Mansion back in 2018, and now Donalds is riding that same wave of momentum.

The Collier and Lee County congressman has emerged as the clear frontrunner in what’s shaping up to be one of the most consequential gubernatorial races in Florida history.

Political action committees supporting Donalds have already raised impressive sums, bringing in more than $11.6 million within weeks of his campaign launch.

Major donors are taking notice, with billionaire school choice advocate Jeff Yass contributing $5 million to support the congressman’s gubernatorial bid.

Ryan Smith, Donalds’ chief campaign strategist, expressed confidence in their momentum: “Our campaign is growing stronger by the day. Byron Donalds is committed to tackling the issues Floridians care about most — lowering the cost of living, fighting illegal immigration, creating jobs, improving our schools and preserving our quality of life for future generations.”

The fundraising numbers tell the story of a candidate who has captured the attention of major Republican donors and grassroots supporters alike.

Democrats scramble to find their champion

While Republicans rally around their Trump-endorsed candidate, Democrats are facing a much more complicated situation.

Former U.S. Representative David Jolly became the first major Democrat to enter the race earlier this month.

But there’s a problem that has Democrat strategists worried.

Jolly is a former Republican who represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017 before switching parties.

The similarities to Charlie Crist, who got steamrolled by DeSantis by 19 points in 2022, are hard to ignore.

Jolly insists he can piece together a winning coalition by focusing on Florida’s affordability crisis.

“This is a change environment,” Jolly told reporters. “I feel very good about a contrast of change versus more of the same.”

A recent Victory Insights poll showed Jolly trailing the leading Republican candidate by five points, though 31% of voters remain undecided.

Other potential Democrat candidates are keeping their cards close to their chest.

U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz has expressed interest but hasn’t committed to jumping into the race.

State Senator Shevrin Jones from Miami Gardens put rumors of his candidacy to rest, telling the Tampa Bay Times: “From what I can see, the field seems to be forming around David Jolly — and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with him. I’m looking forward to hearing more about his vision for Florida. He’s a solid guy.”

Florida Democrat Party Chairperson Nikki Fried, the last Democrat elected statewide in Florida, announced she’s staying out of the governor’s race.

Wild card candidates shake up the field

The race took an unexpected turn when State Senator Jason Pizzo dramatically renounced his leadership position in the Democrat Party and announced plans to run as an independent candidate.

In late April, Pizzo dramatically broke with Democrat leadership during a floor speech, announcing his departure from the party.

“The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,” Pizzo declared. “There are good people that can resuscitate it. But they don’t want it to be me. That’s not convenient, that’s not cool.”

Following his party switch, Pizzo announced in May his intention to run for governor as an independent candidate.

His substantial personal wealth – estimated at around $59 million as of 2023 – could enable him to self-fund a competitive statewide campaign.

High-profile attorney John Morgan, architect of the Morgan & Morgan law firm empire, continues making noise about a potential third-party gubernatorial bid.

Morgan has the name recognition and deep pockets to make waves in the race, though he’s talked about entering politics before without following through.

Casey DeSantis remains the ultimate mystery

Perhaps the most intriguing subplot involves Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis and whether she’ll throw her hat in the ring.

Initially, Governor DeSantis seemed to be positioning his wife for a potential run, even declining to endorse Donalds after Trump’s announcement.

But recent months have been turbulent for the First Lady.

Her signature Hope Florida initiative became embroiled in controversy after investigators discovered that organizations associated with the program had redirected tens of millions of dollars from a Medicaid settlement to political committees connected to Governor DeSantis’ former chief of staff.

The scandal has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature, potentially damaging Casey DeSantis’ political prospects.

Some observers believe she’s cooling on the idea of running, while others maintain she remains interested and would be a formidable candidate with access to the DeSantis donor network.

Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz adds another layer of uncertainty to the Republican field.

Since January, when he told reporters he was considering a run, Gaetz has remained mostly quiet about his political future.

Though he wasn’t Trump’s endorsed gubernatorial candidate, the President clearly remains a fan, having initially picked Gaetz for U.S. Attorney General before the nomination fell through.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson controls substantial financial resources through four political committees, with a combined war chest exceeding $31 million.

Notably, Simpson has not yet filed for reelection to his current position, fueling speculation about a potential gubernatorial campaign.

The stakes couldn’t be higher

Florida has become the epicenter of conservative politics under DeSantis’ leadership, and the 2026 race will determine whether that trend continues.

Donalds has made it clear he intends to build on the DeSantis legacy.

During a May campaign event that drew over 100 supporters to Largo’s Conservative Grounds coffee shop, Donalds delivered a rousing speech promising to continue the DeSantis agenda.

“Florida will continue to be the free state of Florida,” Donalds told the enthusiastic crowd. “Florida will be the continued home of the MAGA movement.”

With the summer legislative recess approaching in Washington, D.C., Donalds will have more time to campaign and raise money around the clock.

His second-quarter fundraising numbers will be closely watched as a barometer of his continued momentum.

The 2026 Florida governor’s race is shaping up to be a political battle royale that could have national implications.

With Trump’s endorsement in hand and millions in the bank, Byron Donalds has positioned himself as the candidate to beat.

But in a state where political surprises are the norm rather than the exception, anything can happen between now and November 2026.