U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced his candidacy for Florida Governor in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity last night: I’m here to announce my candidacy to be the next Governor of the great state of Florida. I think now is the time to now take the mantle and lead our state into the future.”
Donalds followed up today with an email blast:
“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Governor of our great state, and I am humbled by the outpouring of support we have received, especially from President Trump – he is making America great again, and I am proud to be the only candidate for Governor that President Trump trusts to keep Florida great.
“I stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump who’s ushering in the golden age of America and that effort starts in the states. Florida must continue to lead the way in education reform, economic opportunity, lowering costs for families, protecting public safety, and in defending our God-given rights and freedoms. We will create a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Florida with the freedom to live without liberal policies destroying our way of life.
“From the State House to the US House, I have fought tirelessly for Floridians, and I will keep fighting for you as Governor. Together, we will keep Florida the greatest state in the nation and serve as a beacon of freedom with continued bold and common-sense conservative leadership. May God bless the great state of Florida”
Team DeSantis Talks Tough
The governor’s pick to be his successor, wife Casey DeSantis, warned “Republican-lite” could set back Florida during a speech to the Global Liberty Institute.
Other Races
From the News Service of Florida:
Uthmeier, Moody Plan 2026 Bids
By Jim Saunders
New Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has taken the first step toward running for a full term in 2026, while his predecessor, Ashley Moody, is gearing up to defend her U.S. Senate seat.
Uthmeier, who was sworn in last week as attorney general after serving as chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, opened a campaign account Monday for the 2026 race, according to the state Division of Elections website.
DeSantis appointed Uthmeier after tapping Moody to succeed Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate. Rubio became U.S. secretary of state in January. Moody filed paperwork Monday at the Federal Election Commission for a 2026 Senate campaign, according to the federal agency’s website.
Uthmeier, a 37-year-old Republican, had not previously held elected office, but he was a longtime top aide to DeSantis, including managing DeSantis’ unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign. He is the only candidate who has opened a campaign account to run for attorney general in 2026. After being appointed to finish Moody’s term, he would be eligible to serve two full four-year terms.
During a Feb. 17 swearing-in ceremony at the Old Capitol, Uthmeier hit on themes popular with Republican voters. He said would approach the office with an “America first agenda” that fights drug cartels and maintains DeSantis’ approach to government.
“We will not stand idly by as the left tries to infiltrate our institutions and use the court system to indoctrinate our kids,” Uthmeier said. “We will fight the activists that try to weaken our duly enacted laws, that try to challenge our constitutional order and try to harm the unborn.”
Among his actions during the first week were filing a class-action lawsuit that alleged Target Corp. did not properly disclose to investors the risks of a 2023 LGBTQ Pride campaign that drew a consumer backlash and caused a drop in the retailer’s stock price.
Moody, who was first elected attorney general in 2018, also was a key DeSantis ally on issues such as fighting against the Biden administration on immigration enforcement. Rubio was re-elected to a six-year term in 2022, but his departure from the Senate requires the seat to go on the 2026 ballot.
DeSantis also must make an appointment to the Cabinet post of state chief financial officer, as incumbent Jimmy Patronis has submitted his resignation to run in a special election for a Northwest Florida congressional seat.
State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, has opened a campaign account to run for chief financial officer in 2026 and has backing from President Donald Trump. But it remains unclear who DeSantis will appoint to fill out the remainder of Patronis’ term — an appointee who ostensibly could go into the 2026 campaign as the incumbent.
DeSantis said Monday he will wait until after the upcoming legislative session to appoint a chief financial officer and a lieutenant governor, after former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez last week became interim president of Florida International University. The 60-day session starts March 4.