Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) announced Tuesday that he intends to run for Florida governor next year.
Donalds announced his candidacy during an interview with Fox News, saying “I think now is the time to now take the mantle and lead our state into the future.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis currently holds the position, but due to term limits, he will be ineligible to run for a third term. During the interview, Donalds praised DeSantis for his “tremendous job” leading the state.
“We have a great governor. Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state, but now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country, so that’s going to be the mission at hand,” Donalds said.
The announcement is unsurprising as President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds for his candidacy in the 2026 gubernatorial race last week.
“I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER!” Trump stated on the Truth Social post on Feb. 21.
Trump said he believes that Donalds “would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Donalds responded to the president’s post, saying that he is “committed to working with him to Keep Florida Great” and will make an announcement soon.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
