{"id":366182,"date":"2026-08-08T12:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/366182\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:24:09","slug":"byron-donalds-looks-to-light-a-fire-under-turnout-with-tampa-firehouse-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/366182\/","title":{"rendered":"Byron Donalds looks to light a fire under turnout with Tampa firehouse rally"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds<\/a> is making his turnout push from a firehouse.<\/p>\n

The Republican front-runner for Governor will host a Get Out the Vote rally Saturday at the Tampa Firefighters Museum, 720 E. Zack St. in downtown Tampa. The event begins at 1:30 p.m., the same day the statewide early voting window opens for the Aug. 18 Primary.<\/p>\n

The Naples Congressman has led the field since President Donald Trump endorsed him in February 2025. The latest public polling<\/a>, from the James Madison Institute, puts him at 49% among Republican likely voters, on the doorstep of majority support. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins runs a distant second at 18%.<\/p>\n

Donalds has been talking like a candidate who wants more. During a radio hit<\/a> this week, he said his team \u201cknew that it would be tougher\u201d this cycle, but promised to \u201cengage every voter in the state, every household in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a good lead now, but we want it to be better,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tampa Bay has seen plenty of the campaign already. Donalds celebrated qualifying<\/a> in June at Hotel Haya in Ybor City, capping a two-day, seven-county swing. His campaign said then it had raised more than $81 million and knocked on more than 100,000 doors.<\/p>\n

Hillsborough County opened early voting sites Aug. 3, but the mandatory statewide early voting period<\/a> runs Saturday through Aug. 15. Vote-by-mail ballots must reach Supervisors of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day.<\/p>\n

The Primary winner will almost certainly face former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in November. The JMI survey showed Donalds leading Jolly 45% to 38% among likely voters, closer than Republicans are used to at the top of the ticket but a solid cushion heading into the stretch run.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review were performed by Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team.<\/p>\n

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