DeKalb GA News

U.S. Representative Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for the governor of Florida in 2026. The announcement was made during a Fox News appearance on Tuesday night. Donalds expressed his vision for Florida, stating, “We’re going to continue being the freeest state and the best state moving forward.”

Florida's current governor, Ron DeSantis, is not eligible for reelection due to term limits. Donalds is the first candidate to officially declare his intention to run in the Republican primary.

Last week, former President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds for the 2026 gubernatorial race. This endorsement came amidst speculation about other potential candidates, including Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis.

During a news conference in Tampa Bay on Monday, Governor DeSantis commented on Trump's endorsement of Donalds. He said, “We’ve achieved victories in Florida. We need to start achieving those victories up there.” He further remarked that Byron "just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the left these last years." DeSantis also hinted at the possibility of his wife running for governor by saying she would perform better than him if she were to run.

Donalds addressed rumors about Casey DeSantis potentially entering the race by stating, "It's still early," while expressing excitement over Trump's endorsement: "[Trump] has a lot of faith in me."

Donalds outlined some of his priorities if elected as governor. He aims to "turn Florida into the financial hub of the world" and make it "the most business-friendly state in our country." Additionally, he plans to focus on cryptocurrency and digital assets, with an eye toward incorporating crypto into Florida's financial portfolio.

In his announcement speech, Donalds reflected on his journey since arriving in Florida at age 17 with just a trunk full of clothes. He spoke about building a family and career over 17 years in financial services before joining political movements like the Tea Party and serving four years each in both state legislature and Congress.

Donald's candidacy marks a new chapter as he seeks to lead Florida following what he described as Governor DeSantis' tremendous work for the state. His mission is clear: maintain Florida's status as "the best state in the country."