Byron Donalds, who has served the state's 19th congressional district since 2021, is a high-profile lawmaker who appears regularly on the Fox News Channel. A strong supporter of President Trump and the MAGA movement, he announced his plans for 2026 during a recent appearance on "Hannity."
"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," he said.
He went on to share his love for the state and detail his work in the conservative movement there. He praised the "tremendous job" Governor Ron DeSantis has done for Florida and said he hopes to "keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country."
"I think he would be a fantastic governor," says Linda J. Hansen, founder and president of Prosperity 101, an LLC that provides non-partisan educational resources to employees. "He has the skill set. He has the drive. He loves America. He is focused on God, family, country, [and] making America great again. He understands clearly what the American people want and what they need and how to get there."
Ron DeSantis was elected governor of Florida in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He is not eligible to run for a third term in 2026 and will leave office in January 2027.
According to the Florida Constitution, "No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term."
Republicans continue to hold 20 of the state's 28 House seats with a similar supermajority in the state Senate after seeing the highest percentage of voter turnout in more than 30 years last fall.
The party outperformed expectations in Florida, with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott winning by the highest margin of his career and Donald Trump claiming a 13-point victory over Kamala Harris – the largest margin in a presidential race in the state since Republican George H.W. Bush beat Democrat Michael Dukakis by more than 21% in 1988.
Casey DeSantis, Ron DeSantis' wife, is considering a run as well, but President Trump endorsed Donalds before he even officially announced his candidacy.
Hansen thinks that will make a difference.
