Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donald appears to be increasing his voice to run for Florida governor in 2026 in the race to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Donald Trump, a key friend, ally and supporter of President-elect Trump in the House of Representatives, has informed potential donors and Florida political figures in recent days of his intention to run for governor, Republican sources said. confirmed to Fox News.
Some of those conversations took place in Orlando last weekend at the Florida Republican Party’s annual meeting.
“He’s serious,” a source told Fox News.
What Byron Donald said on FOX News Sunday
There was another sign a week ago, when Mr. Donald hired the research firm of prominent Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio. Fabrizio was Trump’s top pollster for his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.
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The conservative former state lawmaker, who represented part of Southwest Florida’s 19th District for four years, has been eyeing a potential gubernatorial run for months.
Asked about the possibility of running for governor in an interview with Fox News Digital last spring, Donald said, “I’ve thought about it. I’m not ruling anything out.”
Rep. Byron Donald (R-Florida) (Fox News Digital/Paul Steinhauser/File)
Donald, who was Trump’s top campaign surrogate candidate last year, said at a private fundraiser in New York City that Donalds would do this if he were to run for Florida governor in 2026. He was interviewed a few days after he announced that he was going deaf. “I have a lot of friends in racing.”
“It’s really amazing that the people back home in Florida think I can be the next governor. It’s such an honor. It’s honestly surreal to think about it, because I’m 45 years old , my life as a politician has been really fruitful,” Donald said at the time. “It’s really humbling and an honor, but I’m just focused on doing my job.”
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Another prominent Florida Republican believed to be considering a run is Wilton Simpson, former state Senate president and state agriculture commissioner.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), who was President Trump’s first choice for attorney general during his second administration but resigned amid controversy, also said he was considering running.
Congressman Byron Donald (R-Florida) speaks at the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024 (Reuters/Mike Seeger)
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was also thought to be considering running to replace Mr. DeSantis, an ally in Tallahassee, but the governor announced Thursday that Mr. Trump’s secretary of state nominee Marco Moody was nominated to replace Senator Rubio. The president-elect’s first Cabinet picks will be approved by the Senate.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is also believed to be interested in a potential gubernatorial run and is considered a front-runner in this month’s special legislative election to fill Gaetz’s seat. are.
“If Mr. Moody were to go to the Senate and run for governor, Mr. Donald would be the clear favorite over Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, chosen by the Tallahassee establishment,” Fabrizio said. Ta. “Let’s see if the Tallahassee establishment gets any smarter after betting in 2010 and losing badly. [former two-term governor and current Sen.] Rick Scott vs. Ron DeSantis in 2018. ”
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Florida, once the top battleground state in the general election, is now a firm red flag, and the race for governor is slowly emerging, with Trump, the Republican kingmaker both in his home state of Florida and across the country, in the final race. It may depend on who you support.
However, the possibility that Mr. DeSantis will support him in the race to succeed the governor cannot be ignored.
Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.
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