Byron Donalds, endorsed by Trump, officially enters the race for Florida governor
Donalds, a close ally of President Donald Trump, is poised to become the first Black governor of Florida, stepping in for the term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
TroibNews 
Rep. Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for governor of Florida, buoyed by an endorsement from President Donald Trump in a state known for its strong MAGA movement.
“After a lot of prayer, a lot of thoughts with my family and my friends, I'm here to announce my candidacy to be the next governor of the great state of Florida,” Donalds told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday night.
Representing a congressional district that includes Naples and Fort Myers, Donalds received Trump's endorsement through a Feb. 20 post on Truth Social. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently mentioned Donalds as a potential running mate and teased him about the gubernatorial race in front of prominent donors.
However, Donalds may face considerable competition from Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida, who has played a significant role in her husband's political ascent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly stated that he views her as the ideal candidate to continue his conservative policy legacy. While Casey DeSantis has not yet declared her candidacy, she and her husband have reportedly been in discussions with donors regarding her potential run.
During his Fox News interview, Donalds chose not to comment directly on Casey DeSantis, claiming he was the only candidate officially in the race. He praised Ron DeSantis as a “great governor” who had performed a “tremendous job,” emphasizing the need to look forward.
“Now, the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country,” he stated, adding that this would be his mission.
He indicated plans to address high property insurance costs and expressed his goal of making Florida the “most business friendly state in the country,” aspiring to lead on issues regarding cryptocurrency and digital assets.
At 46, Donalds is serving his third term in Congress and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative bloc with DeSantis among its founders. Throughout Trump's presidential campaign, he acted as a frequent surrogate, participating in events to engage Black voters in critical battleground states.
Previously, Donalds played a pivotal role in promoting the expansion of Florida’s school voucher program. Together with his wife, Erika Donalds, he has been a consistent advocate for policies that facilitate educational choices beyond public schools.
However, an educational policy disagreement contributed to Donalds’ fallout with Governor DeSantis. In 2023, he remarked that the curriculum for African American history in middle schools needed to be “adjusted,” particularly pointing out problematic language suggesting that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
DeSantis has reaffirmed his belief that Donalds has not significantly contributed to Florida’s conservative shift or policy achievements, suggesting instead that Donalds should concentrate on his congressional duties rather than pursue the governorship.
In response to some of these criticisms, Donalds asserted during his interview that he was “not going anywhere.” He is not required to resign from his congressional position to run for governor.
“For a long time, I've been in the trenches in a lot of these battles dealing with conservatism,” he remarked, noting a bill that allowed parents to review school materials, which was signed into law when Rick Scott was governor.
“We're going to continue to be the free state and the best state going forward,” he added.
Shortly after Donalds’ television appearance, Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, criticized him as a “dangerous political opportunist who should be nowhere near the governor’s mansion.” She accused him of missing votes and “defending insurrectionists,” a nod to his proxy voting and comments related to the events of January 6 at the Capitol. Fried labeled him “unqualified” for the position, claiming he lacks the necessary executive experience.
DeSantis had previously relied on Donalds’ support during his initial gubernatorial campaign, even engaging him for debate preparation. Following the 2024 presidential race, in which Donalds endorsed Trump, the dynamics within DeSantis' inner circle shifted, with increasing focus on the possibility of his wife as a successor.
A contested primary between Donalds and DeSantis could escalate tensions. Supporters of DeSantis have circulated past information about Donalds, including references to his earlier arrests. One incident involved a marijuana possession charge in 1997, which was dismissed, and another sealed record from 2000 related to alleged bribery. Donalds clarified in a 2014 interview that this second incident pertained to a theft charge involving a woman he allowed to use his bank card.
Trump’s endorsement, seen as highly influential in Republican politics, could deter other candidates in a once-competitive state that has shifted toward solid Republican support. Trump secured Florida by a 13-point margin in the last election and frequently visits his properties there. DeSantis, too, has maintained popularity in the state, winning reelection by 19 points in 2022.
The governor has speculated that if Casey were to run, she might surpass his electoral achievements. Polling from 2018 indicates that Trump’s endorsement was crucial to DeSantis’ rise from being a lesser-known member of Congress to a leading GOP candidate.
Originally from Brooklyn, Donalds often highlights his mother's sacrifices to provide him with a private school education, which he credits for his success. Erika Donalds is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy.
In preparation for his gubernatorial bid, Donalds has enlisted several top campaign operatives linked to Trump, including pollster Tony Fabrizio and Ryan Smith, a former business associate of deputy chief of staff James Blair. Additionally, he has brought on fundraiser Megan McKinley, a former aide to Senator Marco Rubio.
Having first been elected to the Florida Legislature in 2016, Donalds later entered a fiercely contested GOP primary for Congress four years afterward. In Congress, he has emerged as a steadfast supporter of Trump and was once considered a potential House speaker during the internal GOP disputes following Kevin McCarthy’s leadership.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
“After a lot of prayer, a lot of thoughts with my family and my friends, I'm here to announce my candidacy to be the next governor of the great state of Florida,” Donalds told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday night.
Representing a congressional district that includes Naples and Fort Myers, Donalds received Trump's endorsement through a Feb. 20 post on Truth Social. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently mentioned Donalds as a potential running mate and teased him about the gubernatorial race in front of prominent donors.
However, Donalds may face considerable competition from Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida, who has played a significant role in her husband's political ascent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly stated that he views her as the ideal candidate to continue his conservative policy legacy. While Casey DeSantis has not yet declared her candidacy, she and her husband have reportedly been in discussions with donors regarding her potential run.
During his Fox News interview, Donalds chose not to comment directly on Casey DeSantis, claiming he was the only candidate officially in the race. He praised Ron DeSantis as a “great governor” who had performed a “tremendous job,” emphasizing the need to look forward.
“Now, the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country,” he stated, adding that this would be his mission.
He indicated plans to address high property insurance costs and expressed his goal of making Florida the “most business friendly state in the country,” aspiring to lead on issues regarding cryptocurrency and digital assets.
At 46, Donalds is serving his third term in Congress and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative bloc with DeSantis among its founders. Throughout Trump's presidential campaign, he acted as a frequent surrogate, participating in events to engage Black voters in critical battleground states.
Previously, Donalds played a pivotal role in promoting the expansion of Florida’s school voucher program. Together with his wife, Erika Donalds, he has been a consistent advocate for policies that facilitate educational choices beyond public schools.
However, an educational policy disagreement contributed to Donalds’ fallout with Governor DeSantis. In 2023, he remarked that the curriculum for African American history in middle schools needed to be “adjusted,” particularly pointing out problematic language suggesting that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
DeSantis has reaffirmed his belief that Donalds has not significantly contributed to Florida’s conservative shift or policy achievements, suggesting instead that Donalds should concentrate on his congressional duties rather than pursue the governorship.
In response to some of these criticisms, Donalds asserted during his interview that he was “not going anywhere.” He is not required to resign from his congressional position to run for governor.
“For a long time, I've been in the trenches in a lot of these battles dealing with conservatism,” he remarked, noting a bill that allowed parents to review school materials, which was signed into law when Rick Scott was governor.
“We're going to continue to be the free state and the best state going forward,” he added.
Shortly after Donalds’ television appearance, Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, criticized him as a “dangerous political opportunist who should be nowhere near the governor’s mansion.” She accused him of missing votes and “defending insurrectionists,” a nod to his proxy voting and comments related to the events of January 6 at the Capitol. Fried labeled him “unqualified” for the position, claiming he lacks the necessary executive experience.
DeSantis had previously relied on Donalds’ support during his initial gubernatorial campaign, even engaging him for debate preparation. Following the 2024 presidential race, in which Donalds endorsed Trump, the dynamics within DeSantis' inner circle shifted, with increasing focus on the possibility of his wife as a successor.
A contested primary between Donalds and DeSantis could escalate tensions. Supporters of DeSantis have circulated past information about Donalds, including references to his earlier arrests. One incident involved a marijuana possession charge in 1997, which was dismissed, and another sealed record from 2000 related to alleged bribery. Donalds clarified in a 2014 interview that this second incident pertained to a theft charge involving a woman he allowed to use his bank card.
Trump’s endorsement, seen as highly influential in Republican politics, could deter other candidates in a once-competitive state that has shifted toward solid Republican support. Trump secured Florida by a 13-point margin in the last election and frequently visits his properties there. DeSantis, too, has maintained popularity in the state, winning reelection by 19 points in 2022.
The governor has speculated that if Casey were to run, she might surpass his electoral achievements. Polling from 2018 indicates that Trump’s endorsement was crucial to DeSantis’ rise from being a lesser-known member of Congress to a leading GOP candidate.
Originally from Brooklyn, Donalds often highlights his mother's sacrifices to provide him with a private school education, which he credits for his success. Erika Donalds is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy.
In preparation for his gubernatorial bid, Donalds has enlisted several top campaign operatives linked to Trump, including pollster Tony Fabrizio and Ryan Smith, a former business associate of deputy chief of staff James Blair. Additionally, he has brought on fundraiser Megan McKinley, a former aide to Senator Marco Rubio.
Having first been elected to the Florida Legislature in 2016, Donalds later entered a fiercely contested GOP primary for Congress four years afterward. In Congress, he has emerged as a steadfast supporter of Trump and was once considered a potential House speaker during the internal GOP disputes following Kevin McCarthy’s leadership.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
