Introduction to the 2026 Florida Governor’s Race
The 2026 Florida governor’s race is already heating up as U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds — who is backed by President Donald Trump — opens his campaign Friday evening with a rally in his hometown of Bonita Springs in southwest Florida.
Donalds’ campaign stop at Sugarshack, a live music venue and restaurant in downtown Bonita Springs, comes a month after he officially announced his run to replace Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose term is expiring.
The Current State of the Republican Primary
So far, Donalds, 46, has no major challenger in the Republican primary. But DeSantis had hinted previously that his wife, Casey DeSantis, would be a worthy candidate to continue his administration’s legacy.
DeSantis and his wife have visited South Florida to see Trump since the Donalds announcement. They also played golf with Trump in early March at the Trump International Golf Course.
Donalds’ Path to Securing the Republican Nomination
For Donalds, the next step is to begin securing endorsements among Florida legislators and the state’s congressional delegation, many of whom are close allies of DeSantis.
Any Republican who joins the race after may face hurdles in finding Republican donors to back them since Donalds has secured Trump’s endorsement. Trump’s endorsement in other gubernatorial and congressional races has been shown to have massive influence in helping elect candidates, including DeSantis in 2018.
Potential GOP Candidates
Other than Casey DeSantis, potential GOP candidates include former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who said in January that he was considering a run, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who sparred with the governor over immigration policies earlier this year.
Donalds may not have a lot of name recognition across Florida, but he has been a staunch Trump ally.
About Byron Donalds
He is a Republican from Brooklyn, New York, who now lives in Naples with his wife and three sons. He was elected in 2020 to the U.S. House, and he is part of the conservative congressional Tea Party caucus and is highly regarded by Republican colleagues in his circle. He was also on a short list of people considered to be Trump’s vice presidential running mate last year.
Conclusion
The 2026 Florida governor’s race is shaping up to be a highly contested election, with Byron Donalds emerging as a strong candidate backed by President Trump. As the campaign season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Republican primary unfolds and which candidates will ultimately emerge as the top contenders.
FAQs
Q: Who is Byron Donalds?
A: Byron Donalds is a U.S. Representative from Florida who has announced his candidacy for the 2026 Florida governor’s race.
Q: Who is backing Byron Donalds’ campaign?
A: President Donald Trump is backing Byron Donalds’ campaign.
Q: Who are the potential GOP candidates for the 2026 Florida governor’s race?
A: Potential GOP candidates include Casey DeSantis, Matt Gaetz, and Wilton Simpson.
Q: What is the current state of the Republican primary?
A: Currently, Byron Donalds has no major challenger in the Republican primary, but other candidates may still join the race.
