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NBC News reports that Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has told potential donors and political players in Florida he will run for governor of The Sunshine State in 2026.
The outlet said the 46-year-old Florida Republican told people at a state Republican Party meeting in Orlando that he is running.
🚨Report: @ByronDonalds has told donors and other Florida political players that he’s running for Governor in 2026
Via: NBC News pic.twitter.com/1diDYFN4oP
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) January 16, 2025
It’s becoming more likely that Byron Donalds is looking to run for governor of Florida.
Let’s go. pic.twitter.com/l2oC0Ft6sw
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 9, 2025
NBC News reports:
In the past week, he has sent an even clearer sign of his intentions in a series of meetings with key lobbyists and political donors.
The account of Donalds’ preparations come from five sources familiar with the meetings and his thinking.
“He was in town [Tallahassee] meeting with all the folks you need to meet with. He told them he is in,” a source who met with Donalds said. “It’s the steps any candidate takes as they prepare to run for governor.”
Donalds told NBC News: “I’m fully focused on helping President Trump pass his America First Agenda. Florida will proudly lead the way.”
The Republican field to replace DeSantis was once seen to be as big as five or six candidates, but with state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis running for Congress and state Attorney General Ashley Moody most likely being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of state, the field has considerably narrowed.
In addition to Donalds, state Agriculture Commission Wilton Simpson is another prominent Republican considered to be a potential gubernatorial candidate.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times in a recent interview that he’s considering a bid for governor.
Gaetz told the outlet he’s “starting to think about running for governor” in 2026.
He said the state’s insurance crisis is among his top policy priorities.
“I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
“I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it’s not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry. If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side,” he added.
“Florida needs a Governor who can break the control insurance companies have over Tallahassee. I can do that, so it’s something Ginger and I are considering,” Gaetz told NBC News.
🚨BREAKING: Matt Gaetz is considering running for Governor of Florida. pic.twitter.com/HfcKr6EUlq
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 8, 2025
From the Tallahassee Democrat:
The potential GOP field to replace DeSantis is wide, reflecting the deep bench Republicans have in Florida. Every sitting Florida Cabinet member – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis – could jump into the race.
Then there’s another member of Florida’s Congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, a staunch supporter of Trump who is popular among the base and frequently appears on cable news to defend the president-elect.
Florida’s extensive list of billionaire residents could also opt to get in the race, as Democrat Jeff Greene did in 2018, or bankroll a candidate of their own.
Even if they don’t win, they could play a spoiler role, just as Greene did when he finished third in 2018. But his attack ads on Gwen Graham and Philip Levine doomed their chances in the Democratic primary.
On the Democrats’ side, potential candidates could be more wary of jumping in the race after Republicans comfortably won the U.S. Senate race, as Rick Scott kept his seat, and held onto their supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature. The results cemented Florida’s status as a GOP-leaning state.
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