Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds says DeSantis has endorsed him
TAMPA, Fla. —
Republican candidate for Florida governor Byron Donalds said Tuesday that he has earned Gov. Ron DeSantis’ endorsement.
Speaking at the Florida GOP Leadership Forum in Tampa, DeSantis introduced Donalds — as well as Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson — as “our winning Republican ticket for 2026.”
Gov. DeSantis, who is term-limited, had not made any public endorsements leading up to the primary election in August, during which his lieutenant governor, Jay Collins, lost to Donalds by more than 380,000 votes.
On social media Tuesday, Donalds said he was honored to earn DeSantis’ endorsement.
“Governor DeSantis has done incredible work to make Florida the envy of America,” Donalds wrote. “As your next Governor, I will build on his success and defend the Florida Dream.”
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Tonight I was honored to earn Governor @RonDeSantis’s endorsement.
Governor DeSantis has done incredible work to make Florida the envy of America.
As your next Governor, I will build on his success and defend the Florida Dream. pic.twitter.com/iRyQMD1V9i
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) September 2, 2026
Donalds will face Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly in the November election.