The 2026 Florida governor’s race is already gaining momentum as U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, who has the support of former President Donald Trump, kicks off his campaign with a rally in his hometown of Bonita Springs, located in southwest Florida.
Donalds’ rally at Sugarshack, a live music venue and restaurant in downtown Bonita Springs, comes a month after he officially announced his bid to succeed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose term is coming to an end.
At 46 years old, Donalds currently has no significant challengers in the Republican primary. However, DeSantis had previously suggested that his wife, Casey DeSantis, could be a strong candidate to continue his administration’s policies.
The DeSantis couple has made recent trips to South Florida to meet with Trump, including a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Course in early March, following Donalds’ campaign announcement.
For Byron Donalds, the next step in his campaign is to begin gathering endorsements from Florida legislators and members of the state’s congressional delegation, many of whom are strong supporters of Governor Ron DeSantis.
Any Republican entering the race later may face challenges in securing financial backing from donors, as Donalds has already earned the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Trump’s support has proven to be a powerful asset in past gubernatorial and congressional races, including helping DeSantis secure his victory in 2018.
In addition to Casey DeSantis, other potential Republican candidates for governor include former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, who expressed interest in running earlier this year, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who had disagreements with Governor DeSantis over immigration policies.
While Donalds may not yet have widespread name recognition across Florida, he has gained significant support as a strong ally of former President Donald Trump.
A Republican originally from Brooklyn, New York, Donalds now resides in Naples with his wife and three children. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2020 and is part of the conservative Tea Party caucus, earning respect from his fellow Republicans. He was also among those considered as Trump’s vice presidential running mate in 2024.
