Florida Governor Ron DeSantis still has nearly two years left in office, but former President Donald Trump may already be considering his possible successor.
On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social about a poll showing U.S. Representative Byron Donalds leading the Florida GOP gubernatorial race.
The poll, conducted by Victory Polling, surveyed 850 likely Republican voters.
Donalds led with 31% support, while Jeanette Nuñez, former Lieutenant Governor and now interim president of Florida International University, trailed at 4%.
Other potential candidates, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, received minimal support.
Trump did not add any personal comments, simply sharing the poll results.
Donald Expected to Run for Governor
Byron Donalds has not officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 Florida governor race. However, reports indicate he has started informing donors about his plans to run.
NBC News recently reported that Donald is preparing for an official announcement.
Trump’s potential endorsement of Donald could reignite tensions with DeSantis, who previously ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
DeSantis recently announced that he would restart his political committee, Florida Freedom Fund, to support conservative candidates in the 2026 election.
DeSantis’ Political Committee Prepares for 2026
The Florida Freedom Fund has been active in raising and spending large sums for conservative campaigns.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, the committee has raised over $8.6 million and spent more than $6.5 million since its formation last May.
DeSantis posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the committee’s goals:
“For the 2026 cycle, the FFF will raise even more resources to support a strong conservative gubernatorial candidate and conservative legislative candidates. We need leaders who will build on Florida’s success and keep promises to voters.”
A Strained Relationship Between Donalds and DeSantis
Donalds and DeSantis were once considered political allies.
However, their relationship soured in 2023 when DeSantis criticized Donalds over Florida’s educational standards on Black history.
This dispute created a public divide between the two politicians.
Speculation has also surfaced about Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, potentially running for governor in 2026. However, she has not been listed in any polls, and Governor DeSantis has dismissed the rumors.
In an interview on The Ingraham Angle, DeSantis addressed the speculation:
“She’s not seeking it. People have been asking her for a long time, but it’s not something she’s looking to do.”
Other Potential Candidates for Governor
A recent Florida Atlantic University/Mainstreet Research poll showed Casey DeSantis leading among Republican voters with 43% support, followed by Donalds at 19%.
Other Republicans considering a run include former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz.
On the Democratic side, possible candidates include state senators Jason Pizzo and Shevrin Jones, U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz, and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell.
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Trump’s Influence on Florida’s 2026 Elections
Trump has already made one major endorsement for Florida’s 2026 elections. He has backed Sarasota County Republican Joe Gruters for the position of chief financial officer.
As the race for governor unfolds, Trump’s influence and potential endorsement will likely play a key role in shaping the Republican primary.
For now, his Truth Social post has fueled speculation that Byron Donalds may be the candidate he supports.
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