President Trump shares poll showing Byron Donalds cleaning up in run for FL governor
- A recent poll shows Florida Congressman Byron Donalds as the frontrunner in a hypothetical gubernatorial race, prompting speculation about a potential run and a likely endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
- Donalds, who represents Florida's 19th Congressional District, has reportedly told donors he plans to launch a bid for governor, though he has not made a formal announcement.
- The potential candidacy of Donalds adds another layer of intrigue to the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race, which is still more than a year away and subject to significant political shifts.
It’s not an explicit endorsement, but President Donald Trump shared a poll Monday showing Naples Congressman Byron Donalds the solid leader in a theoretical Florida governor’s race. Trump’s Truth Social post had more than 7,100 likes by 5 p.m.
Donalds hasn’t declared, but according to Victory Polling, with 31% of the hypothetical vote, he would trounce Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez (4%), Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson (3%) and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (1%).
Trump posted the survey along with a list of Republican Donalds' “notable committed supporters” that includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who was often mentioned with Donalds as a potential Trump vice-presidential pick.
The poll was January 26-27 of 850 likely Republican primary voters throughout Florida and "was not commissioned by any candidate or committee," according to the report.
Donalds didn’t immediately return requests for comment but has reportedly told donors he’s “launching a bid” for the office.
If so, a Trump endorsement would be golden.
Lee County GOP chair Michael Thompson would expect no less. “President Trump supports Byron to the moon and back.”
Florida Gulf Coast University instructor Cindy Banyai, who twice ran against Donalds for U.S. Congressional District 19 isn’t convinced Donalds will find as much support as he’d like. “I’m not sure how well the people of Florida are going to receive him,” Banyai said. “He’s made a name for himself as a media personality (but) he hasn’t had a lot of tangible results for us here in Southwest Florida.”
Running for governor would not be “an unexpected move from Byron,” Banyai said, “Considering he did not get any of the cabinet positions … I guess his consolation prize is Trump supporting him for Florida’s governor.”
Southwest Florida GOP strategist Terry Miller said if the race were tomorrow, “Byron is hands-down the front-runner.” As for his relationship with the president, Donalds has long been a national Trump surrogate; Donalds sat next to Trump at the GOP convention (“not on the same section; not in the same row, but next to him") and the two shared a flight to the Daytona 500 last weekend. “So their relationship is pretty deep,” Miller said.
And yet.
“A lot can happen in 21 months,” when Florida’s gubernatorial primary takes place, Miller said.
“With politics, you just don’t know the unknown.”