Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has utilized his House connections to build his profile for the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race.
Seven Republican Florida House representatives endorsed Donalds on Wednesday, including Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Brian Mast (R-FL).
Reps. Laurel Lee (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and John Rutherford (R-FL) also backed Donalds.
Lee’s support came after she endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president in 2024 before switching to Trump after the Florida governor dropped out. Trump called for a challenger to primary her at one point before reversing his position. Lee was DeSantis’s secretary of state.
She gave a glowing review of Donalds, picking him over his former boss’s wife.
“My friend Byron Donalds cares deeply about Florida and every resident who calls the Sunshine State home,” she said. “I am proud to join with President Trump in endorsing Byron Donalds for governor. Byron will work to expand economic and educational opportunities for families and students. He will work to make Florida more affordable. And he will always stand up for our seniors. With common-sense solutions and rock-solid conservative principles, Byron Donalds will make an outstanding governor for Florida.”
Salazar echoed much of the same sentiments, touting that he would be good for seniors.
“Byron is the best choice to keep Florida’s economy strong, stand up for seniors, reduce insurance rates, and bring down the cost of groceries and energy bills,” she said. “I encourage all Floridians to stand with President Trump and support Byron Donalds for governor.”
Donalds already has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which usurped other endorsements he has or could receive. The additional endorsements from his House colleagues will likely only bolster his chances of winning the Republican primary over speculated challenger Casey DeSantis, Ron Desantis’s wife.
So far, Donalds has picked up the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in his race, as well as fellow Florida Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Kat Commack (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), and Randy Fine (R-FL).
“Our campaign is growing,” he said in a Tuesday night social media post. “We’re building momentum. We have more support on the way. And together, we will take the Sunshine State to NEW HEIGHTS.”
Donalds announced his gubernatorial bid in late February after Trump’s endorsement. Casey Desantis, his only significant challenger right now, has yet to announce her bid. Ron Desantis suggested last week that his wife won’t launch a bid until the end of the Florida legislative session in May if she chooses to.
He told reporters to “stay tuned,” suggesting the state would revert back to being competitive for both parties without the right people at the helm.
“I think there’s a lot of folks here, unfortunately, in the political system that would love to see Florida revert back to the good old days when we were a 1-point state. And I don’t want to go back. I want to build off the success,” the Florida governor said.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A recent poll from firm Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which assisted Trump during the general election, showed Donalds with a 34% to 30% lead over Casey Desantis in a hypothetical primary.
The Washington Examiner contacted Donalds’s campaign for comment but received no response.