- by foxnews
- 31 Mar 2025
The conservative lawmaker, who has represented Florida's 19th Congressional District in the southwest part of the state for four years, is currently the only major Republican to jump into the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Additionally, two MAGA world rock-stars - Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, and Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and commentator who leads the powerful Turning Point USA youth organization - have recorded videos for Donalds' campaign kick-off, sources tell Fox News. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson will speak in person at the event.
"I think what you'll see is a show of force and I think the support and the momentum that Bryon is generating across the state, whether it's fundraising or grassroots support, will be evident," veteran Republican strategist and Florida native Stephen Lawson told Fox News.
DeSantis has repeatedly touted his wife's accomplishments as Florida first lady and framed her as a worthy successor.
Additionally, Casey DeSantis, late last month, stoked speculation when asked by reporters if she would run.
"To quote the late Yogi Berra," DeSantis said as she reiterated a famous line from the late baseball legend. "If you see a fork in the road, take it."
The governor then quipped to reporters that "you guys can read into that what you will."
When asked this month at the National Review Institute's Ideas Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, if she might launch a campaign, Casey DeSantis said "we'll see."
Sources last month confirmed to Fox News that the governor has been reaching out to donors on behalf of his wife.
The next campaign cash filing deadline in the Florida governor's race comes at the end of this weekend, and a source in the congressman's political orbit predicted to Fox News that Donalds would "easily eclipse" the $1 million DeSantis raised in his first month as a gubernatorial candidate in his successful 2018 campaign to succeed Scott as governor.
Donalds has been complimentary of Gov. DeSantis.
"We have a great governor,"Donalds said last month in his "Hannity" interview. "Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state. But now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country. And so that's going to be the mission at hand."
However, the source added that Donalds will use Friday's campaign kickoff to "put a marker down to show that this is his race to win."
An internal poll conducted earlier this month for Donalds' campaign indicated the congressman edging Casey DeSantis by single digits in a hypothetical GOP primary showdown. However, the survey suggested that Donalds' lead surged to more than 20 points when respondents were informed that he is supported by Trump, whose sway over the GOP is stronger than ever.
Florida used to be the nation's top general election battleground state, but it has dramatically swung to the right in the past couple of election cycles. DeSantis won his 2022 re-election by nearly 20 points, and Trump carried the state last November by 13 points.
With Florida now clearly a red state, the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary will be considered the favorite in next year's general election.
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