WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. The most obvious indication yet that Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is pursuing his long-awaited quest for governor is his announcement to prospective funders and Florida political figures that he is seeking the governorship in 2026.
Long-running reports that Donalds, who represents southwest Florida, is considering a run to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis have intensified in recent days. Donalds announced his candidacy for governor while sponsoring a hospitality suite at a Republican Party of Florida gathering in Orlando last weekend.
He has made his intentions even more apparent in the last week by holding a number of meetings with influential political contributors and lobbyists over a possible bid in Tallahassee.
Five people with knowledge of Donalds’ meetings and thought processes provide a description of his preparations.
He met with everyone you need to meet with while he was in town in Tallahassee. NBC News was informed by a source who met with Donalds that he told them he is in. It refers to the actions that each candidate takes in order to become ready to run for governor.
Donalds said NBC News, “I’m totally focused on helping President Trump pass his America First Agenda.” Florida will take the lead with pride.
Once thought to be as large as five or six candidates, the Republican field to succeed DeSantis has significantly shrunk with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody most likely being appointed to fill the Senate seat left empty by Marco Rubio and Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis running for Congress.
Wilton Simpson, the former president of the Florida state Senate, and Donalds are the two most well-known Republican candidates currently being considered for the race.
The Tampa Bay Times was the first to report on former Representative Matt Gaetz’s public indications that he is exploring a run for office. Gaetz recently accepted a position as an anchor on the conservative TV network OAN.
A request for comment was not answered by Gaetz or Simpson’s staff.
Being a staple on cable news channels and seen as a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, Donalds has a large following and the capacity to raise a sizable amount of money from outside the state. However, with $30 million already in the bank and years of experience in Florida politics, Simpson is a strong contender.
Trump will most likely be the deciding factor in the upcoming, widely televised Republican gubernatorial contest.
After years of Republican dominance, Florida, where Trump resides, is now firmly red. Trump won the once-swing state by over 15 percentage points. In Florida politics, including the state’s next midterm governor contest, he is regarded as the most powerful kingmaker.
Simpson and Donalds have a long-standing friendship with Susie Wiles, Trump’s new White House chief of staff. After being one of his most outspoken 2024 backers and closest congressional confidants, Donalds is thought to have a closer direct relationship with the future president.
Ryan Smith, a former business associate of James Blair, the political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign, has also been appointed by Donalds as one of his top Florida advisers. Smith will now be a senior government official.
In addition to Smith, Donalds is collaborating with Brad Herold, a seasoned Republican politician from Florida who served as one of DeSantis’s primary early advisors during his then-underdog run for governor in 2018. Additionally, Donalds has hired fundraiser Megan McKinley, who has worked for Rubio and former National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, and Tony Fabrizio, a leading Trump pollster.
DeSantis is considered a possible wild card even if the field has shrunk.
The congressman once presented DeSantis and his family to Donalds at his re-election night party in 2022 because of how close they were. However, once Donalds supported Trump in the GOP presidential race, the two quickly fell out. Since Simpson and the governor have never been close, it seems improbable that the governor would support Simpson.
According to two individuals familiar with his thinking, DeSantis could designate his current Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuez as president of Florida International University, her alma mater, in order to find a candidate he could formally support. Her replacement would then be considered as DeSantis’ preferred candidate to run for governor in his place.
A short list of potential candidates for that position does not yet exist.
There is no deadline for when Donalds or any other contender would formally announce their candidacies, but with Republicans controlling a small majority in the House, there are worries that he would leave Congress too soon.
The outcome of two special congressional elections in Florida, which were prompted by Gaetz’s departure from the House and Trump’s appointment of Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser, may determine when any possible announcement is made. In the Republican-leaning contests for those districts, Patronis and incumbent state representative Randy Fine, respectively, are strongly favored.
April 1 is the date of the special election for both seats.