President Trump Gives Ringing Endorsement in Florida Governor’s Race (Last Name NOT DeSantis!)

Potentially big news just broke regarding the next Governor of Florida!

To begin with, Ron DeSantis is ineligible to run for re-election as Governor in 2026.  While the Florida constitution would allow him to run again at a later date, he has fulfilled the back-to-back 6 year terms allowed.

So in Florida… it’s somebody else’s turn.

President Trump has come out with a full ringing endorsement for Byron Donalds for the governorship — that is, IF Byron actually decides to throw his hat in the ring!

I’m seeing the news starting to flood across social media:

🚨BREAKING: President Trump just FULLY ENDORSED Byron Donalds for Florida Governor if he runs.

"Should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!"

Congratulations, @ByronDonalds! pic.twitter.com/rWIr8yxZbj

— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) February 20, 2025

The President issued his endorsement offer via his own Truth Social account.

He called Donalds a “TOTAL WINNER”, lauded his wife and family, and highlighted him as an “America First” advocate.

🚨President Trump on Byron Donalds potentially running for Governor of Florida: pic.twitter.com/yJ6Lk5pKvT

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 20, 2025

Here’s President Trump’s preemptive endorsement of Donalds:

Here’s the full text of President Trump’s post for easier viewing:

I am hearing that Highly Respected Congressman Byron Donalds is considering running for Governor of Florida, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER! Byron has a great wife, Erika, and three beautiful sons. They are very proud of him! As Governor, Byron would have a BIG Voice, and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda. He will fight tirelessly to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military, Protect our Vets, Restore our Economic Power, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.

Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!

Though Donalds has yet to announce his candidacy for the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race, President Trump’s endorsement would certainly get his campaign off to a good start.

President Trump shared a poll via his Truth Social account on Monday, showing Donalds with a lead over potential competitors, according to a report in the Daily Caller:

President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds to serve as the next governor of Florida.

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Trump shared a Victory Insights poll on Truth Social Monday showing Donalds with a significant lead over potential competitors in a hypothetical matchup. Donalds netted 31% support while Republican Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jeanette Nuñez had 4% support followed by state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson at 3% support.

No Florida Republican has thus far jumped into the GOP primary.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has thus far not endorsed a successor, is term-limited.

Donalds is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and is currently serving in his third term representing Florida’s 19th District.

One thing is certain — Byron Donalds is a staunch Trump supporter.

He is also incredibly well spoken and articulate when it comes to conveying key messaging regarding President Trump’s agenda.

Check out this clip from today as Donalds appeared on News Nation talking about the situation in Ukraine:

We spent significant national treasure ($350B) on this never-ending war in Ukraine.

Why is Europe getting its money back from Ukraine but not us?

Under Trump, we will not stand for this.
Under Trump, we will not be taken advantage-of.
Under Trump, we are putting AMERICA FIRST. pic.twitter.com/5ipbKzsB93

— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 20, 2025

And he’s not a one-trick-pony.  Donalds is all in on President Trump’s agenda.

Check out another clip of him appearing on Fox Business.

Democrats HATE what DOGE is doing — because they are exposing not just waste, but “ideological spending”… which Donalds points out in this segment:

We are eliminating waste, fraud, & abuse from government. This is COMMON SENSE.

Democrats caused the waste with ideological spending.

They facilitated the fraud & abuse by refusing AT ALL COSTS to add guardrails.

They’ve been EXPOSED & all they have left are legal challenges. pic.twitter.com/sqBTqCGCgK

— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 20, 2025

There is little doubt that Byron Donalds is a very dynamic personality with an amazing working knowledge of the facts surrounding all the issues.

There has been ample reason to think that Ron DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, may run for the top spot in Florida.

She has polled well, with 30% of respondents in one poll favorable to her in the Governor’s mansion, according to a report in Fox News:

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis is favored to succeed her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis, as governor of the Sunshine State, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

“Casey DeSantis was the top early pick for potential Republican primary candidates when we asked back in late 2023, albeit with only 22% support,” said Dr. Michael Binder, PORL faculty director and professor of political science.

Overall, 30% of respondents were favorable of the first lady, 22% unfavorable and 33% had never heard of her, according to the poll, which was conducted from Feb. 5–14.

“She likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady,” Binder added, “but most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition—some suffering more than others. That said, I expect we’ll see a few of them become household names by the time the August 2026 primary rolls around.”

With that level of name recognition, you can’t count out another DeSantis in the Florida Governor’s slot.

But by the same token, an endorsement from President Trump right now is even more golden than it has ever been.

I can say, even without President Trump’s endorsement, I have watched the consistency of Byron Donalds — quoting him often — because he is so good when it comes to drilling down to what really matters on any given issue.

That combination of a good candidate with a ringing endorsement is hard to beat.

There is plenty of time for things to shake out differently between now and the race, but I wouldn’t be surprised — or disappointed — to see Byron Donalds have to resign his post in the U.S. House in order to take up the mantle of the next Governor of Florida.