Three of the candidates in the race to become Florida’s next governor made campaign stops in Central Florida on Tuesday. A new statewide survey from the Tyson Group has Congressman Byron Donalds polling at 48% among Republican primary voters. Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is more than 40 points behind Donalds at 9%, followed by investment firm manager James Fishback at 8% and former House Speaker Paul Renner at 4%. “We are exactly where Gov. DeSantis was 8 years ago,” Collins told WESH 2 News. “We’re making our move. We’re making our push.” Collins visited Southern Technical College in Sanford. After watching hands-on electrical training, he spoke with students. “The average tradesman is 58 years old in Florida,” Collins said. “That’s a real issue. HVAC is something we all depend on. It’s all fun and games until your AC goes out, right?” As Collins, Fishback and Renner try to close the gap with Donalds, David Jolly is cruising toward the Democratic nomination for governor since Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings ended his campaign because of a cancer diagnosis. “I’ve had an opportunity to speak to the mayor, and he is full of life and hope, and has gotten so much support from, you know, people in the community,” said Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party. Fried said Democrats have improved their ground game in the Sunshine State since her run for governor four years ago and she’s encouraged by nearly 30 seats flipping blue since 2024. “The Republicans can say all they want,” Fried said, “but the voters and the people of our nation and the people here in the state of Florida, they’re the ones who are opening up their bank statements, they’re the ones who are getting their utilities bills, and they’re seeing the Republicans and the corruption that’s coming from there” Donalds continues to receive campaign contributions from the AI industry, even though he’s changed his messaging on the issue of data centers. “There’s only about five gigawatts of excess power on Florida’s grid,” Donalds said during a press conference last Friday. “Five gigawatts between all the utility companies. So, at most, you could probably build four hyperscale centers in the state of Florida, four, because they chase access to baseload power.” Both Donalds and Collins said they support the legislation signed by Gov. DeSantis that includes environmental protections and prevents costs from being passed on to ratepayers. “I’m going to stand for local cities and counties to have local rule,” Collins said. “We’re going to give guardrails to protect them, to make sure we protect Florida. That’s critical because I have grave concerns over hyperscalers.” Fishback told WESH 2 News he supports an outright ban on data centers in Florida. He held a rally outside the Orlando federal courthouse to call for a ban on Flock cameras because of privacy concerns. Flock cameras are AI-enabled automated license plate readers that capture still images of passing cars and log license plates. Law enforcement agencies are able to access that data in a searchable database. Donalds made his first joint campaign stop Friday in Orlando with U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Florida, before they both received endorsements from the Florida Police Chiefs Association. “We’re gonna lead the charge and we’re gonna keep Florida red this November,” Donalds told the crowd at Beth’s Burger Bar. While Donalds has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Collins said he’s still confident he can earn his party’s nomination. “Most people love Trump,” Collins said, “but they really aren’t enamored, they aren’t there with Byron, so that tells me this race is available, it’s winnable.” WESH 2 News planned to catch up with Jolly during an event Tuesday evening in Osceola County. He is attending a town hall organized by the Democrats of Celebration. Florida’s primary election day is Aug. 18. The voter registration deadline is July 20.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Three of the candidates in the race to become Florida’s next governor made campaign stops in Central Florida on Tuesday.

A new statewide survey from the Tyson Group has Congressman Byron Donalds polling at 48% among Republican primary voters.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is more than 40 points behind Donalds at 9%, followed by investment firm manager James Fishback at 8% and former House Speaker Paul Renner at 4%.

“We are exactly where Gov. DeSantis was 8 years ago,” Collins told WESH 2 News. “We’re making our move. We’re making our push.”

Collins visited Southern Technical College in Sanford. After watching hands-on electrical training, he spoke with students.

“The average tradesman is 58 years old in Florida,” Collins said. “That’s a real issue. HVAC is something we all depend on. It’s all fun and games until your AC goes out, right?”

As Collins, Fishback and Renner try to close the gap with Donalds, David Jolly is cruising toward the Democratic nomination for governor since Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings ended his campaign because of a cancer diagnosis.

“I’ve had an opportunity to speak to the mayor, and he is full of life and hope, and has gotten so much support from, you know, people in the community,” said Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party.

Fried said Democrats have improved their ground game in the Sunshine State since her run for governor four years ago and she’s encouraged by nearly 30 seats flipping blue since 2024.

“The Republicans can say all they want,” Fried said, “but the voters and the people of our nation and the people here in the state of Florida, they’re the ones who are opening up their bank statements, they’re the ones who are getting their utilities bills, and they’re seeing the Republicans and the corruption that’s coming from there”

Donalds continues to receive campaign contributions from the AI industry, even though he’s changed his messaging on the issue of data centers.

“There’s only about five gigawatts of excess power on Florida’s grid,” Donalds said during a press conference last Friday. “Five gigawatts between all the utility companies. So, at most, you could probably build four hyperscale centers in the state of Florida, four, because they chase access to baseload power.”

Both Donalds and Collins said they support the legislation signed by Gov. DeSantis that includes environmental protections and prevents costs from being passed on to ratepayers.

“I’m going to stand for local cities and counties to have local rule,” Collins said. “We’re going to give guardrails to protect them, to make sure we protect Florida. That’s critical because I have grave concerns over hyperscalers.”

Fishback told WESH 2 News he supports an outright ban on data centers in Florida.

He held a rally outside the Orlando federal courthouse to call for a ban on Flock cameras because of privacy concerns.

Flock cameras are AI-enabled automated license plate readers that capture still images of passing cars and log license plates. Law enforcement agencies are able to access that data in a searchable database.

Donalds made his first joint campaign stop Friday in Orlando with U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Florida, before they both received endorsements from the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

“We’re gonna lead the charge and we’re gonna keep Florida red this November,” Donalds told the crowd at Beth’s Burger Bar.

While Donalds has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Collins said he’s still confident he can earn his party’s nomination.

“Most people love Trump,” Collins said, “but they really aren’t enamored, they aren’t there with Byron, so that tells me this race is available, it’s winnable.”

WESH 2 News planned to catch up with Jolly during an event Tuesday evening in Osceola County. He is attending a town hall organized by the Democrats of Celebration.

Florida’s primary election day is Aug. 18. The voter registration deadline is July 20.