Donald Trump “pre-approved” Byron Donald for the Governor of Florida in 2026. Trump’s support could prevent other Republicans from entering the race.
Just as he did in 2018, President Donald Trump scrambled the Florida Governor race on one social media post.
On Thursday night, Trump said he would support R-Naples Rep. Byron Donald if he jumps into the 2026 race.
“Byron Donald will be a truly great and powerful governor for Florida. If he decides to run, he will get my full and full approval. Run, Byron, Run!” Trump said, posted on Truth Social, a social media site owned by.
Donald followed up with X’s own post and told him he would be “quickly” to announce it.
In a speech on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, Donald made no formal announcement, but said it was “an interesting 12 hours,” and he said he was “waiting for the future.” We told attendees to continue.
More from Napoli Daily News: Will he become him or not? Amidst many speculations, Byron Donald promises an announcement “quickly”
Trump’s post was able to clear the main Republican candidate field or at least make him think twice before jumping into the race. His support of Ron DeSantis in the summer of 2018 spurred him to shoot past GOP demonstration favourite Adam Putnam in the GOP primary that year.
“An immediate run, and it certainly puts Byron Donald as a clear front runner and potentially clears the field,” said Professor Aubrey Jewette, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. “We’re not sure about that, but we know that Donald Trump’s support probably has a lot of weight with Florida Republican voters.”
One of the governor’s potential Democratic candidates, Sen. Jason Pizzo of North Miami, believes that the Republican primary is essentially over.
When reporters asked him for comment on Trump’s quasi-editor, he still texted the 1982 film Rocky III. Pizzo has Italian heritage. Donald is black.
Pizzo also suggested that Trump’s support from Donald would reduce DeSantis’ funding. DeSantis is on a limited period, but last month he said he would raise funds for “strong conservative governor candidates” through his political committee, the Florida Freedom Fund.
Desantis’ wife Casey is considered a potential candidate, but it is unclear how the husband will run to succeed with plans to mesh with Governor Desantis’s plans to run for president in 2028 is.
New Poll: Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis was the most favourite of potential GOP candidates
Earlier this month, NBC News reported that Casey DeSantis is “seriously considering” the 2026 run, but her husband later threw cold water at the idea of a bid and told Fox News’ “Laura” Ingraham” to “It’s not what she’s looking for…but that’s flattering.”
A spokesman for Desantis’ political operations declined to respond to a request for comment Friday. DeSantis and Donald were once allies, but split up when Donald supported Trump in DeSantis’ place of the 2024 GOP presidential primary.
Trump’s impact on Florida politics
The president has already ruined the 2026 race for the Florida Governor’s mansion, even before the online post Thursday. His move to staff his administration with Florida officials has led potential Republican candidates to move into different roles.
Former Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis could have focused on the governor’s run. However, Moody was appointed US Senator, who was appointed by DeSantis to be the US Senator. Rubio has become Secretary of State.
Patronis is poised to win a special election for the US House of Representatives, vacant by former US Congressman Matt Gaetz.
This makes Trilby Republican Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson still likely to have the chance that officials from the previous Florida Cabinet still take on the governor’s race. He is the former Senate speaker who received Trump’s support for the Agriculture Committee’s campaign in 2022.
As of the start of 2025, he has raised $30.8 million for four political committees that can be used in the governor’s racial campaign. A representative for Simpson did not reply to a message seeking comment Friday.
Meanwhile, Donald has hired to help boost the governor’s campaign, including Tony Fabrizio, a well-known GOP poller who worked for Trump.
If a more serious Republican candidate takes part in the race despite Trump’s support of Donald, it could be a boon of democratic hope to win the governor’s mansion, Jewett said .
Florida Democrats have been cut off by Republicans in their recent election cycle, and they have overtaken them in voter registrations and are confident in calling Sunshine State the Red State despite their swing state until recently. have.
“It’s certainly going to be the Democrats if it happens — especially if Democrats settle quickly on the candidate, it’s a good long, bitter, expensive Republican main battle. “In this moment, it’s It doesn’t seem to be the case.”
This story contains previously published material. Gray Rohrer is a reporter for the USA Today Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be contacted at grohrer@gannett.com. X: Follow him on @grayrohrer.
