Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ preferred replacement has been named by both himself and President Donald Trump… but they seem to be setting up for another clash, like they did in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Rep. Byron Donalds officially announced his candidacy for Florida governor Tuesday evening on Fox News’ “Hannity,” becoming the first Republican to formally enter the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis after being endorsed by Trump. The president called Donalds a “TOTAL WINNER” and indicated he would have his “complete and total endorsement” if he ran.
“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 said. “We have a great governor. DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state, but now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country.”
An early Victory Insights poll shared by Trump showed Donalds leading potential competitors with 31% support, compared to 4% for Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and 3% for Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
Governor DeSantis, however, appeared to push back on Donalds’ candidacy during a Monday press conference, criticizing the congressman’s absence from Florida politics while serving in Washington.
“He hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the Left, over these last years,” DeSantis said. “He’s been in other states campaigning, doing that, and that’s fine, but okay, well then deliver results up there. You know that’s what I want to see.”
Instead, DeSantis praised his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, as a leader in Florida — fueling speculation she may enter the race.
“I will tell you this — you’re talking about somebody like her — I won by the biggest margin that any Republican’s ever won a governor’s race here in Florida, she would do better than me, like there’s no question about that,” DeSantis said. “And she’s somebody that has, I think, the intestinal fortitude and the dedication to conservative principles that, you know, anything we’ve accomplished, she’d be able to take to the next level.”
The governor also shared that conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh had once told him: “The only person I would rather have as my governor than you is her.”
Donalds, who arrived in Florida at age 17 “off of a Greyhound bus with just a trunk full of clothes,” has built a career that includes 17 years in financial services, four years in the state legislature, and four years in Congress. He emphasized his connection to the Tea Party and “Make America Great Again” movements.
DeSantis warned that despite Republican gains, Florida could revert to swing state status without effective leadership, saying he wants to back someone who will “be able to continue and build off the success that we’ve had here in Florida.”
The 2026 gubernatorial race is expected to attract additional candidates, with potential runs from Lt. Gov. Nuñez and Agriculture Commissioner Simpson, though neither has formally announced.