Trump-backed Donalds holds commanding lead in Florida governor primary

Representative Byron Donalds is on track to secure the Republican nomination for Florida governor, with recent polls showing him holding a commanding lead over his GOP rivals roughly one month before the primary. The race offers a clear test of President Donald Trump's endorsement power and could signal conservative momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Donalds, endorsed by Trump in February 2025, has not secured the backing of term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis won reelection by nearly 20 points in 2022, and Trump carried Florida by 13 points in 2024. No Democrat has won Florida's governorship since 1994, and the Cook Political Report rates the 2026 race as Solid Republican.