A.G. Gancarski
President Donald Trump is continuing to drop hints about who he wants to succeed Ron DeSantis as Florida’s Governor. And it’s not Florida’s First Lady.
In a new Truth Social post, Donald Trump spotlighted a January poll, first covered by Florida Politics, showing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds with a massive lead over a hypothetical field of Republican opponents in the August 2026 Primary.
Victory Insights, a firm with an office in Naples, shows more than 31% of likely Florida Republican Primary voters prefer Donalds when pitted against three other contenders. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez comes in a distant second with 4% support. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson polls at 3%. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez shows with just 1%.
At a New York City fundraiser last year, Trump suggested Donalds might be a good fit, saying that if he ran for Governor, he’d have “many friends in the race.”
And that poll shows it, albeit with a significant caveat. The survey omits one potential candidate with major name recognition: First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Donalds has been coy about a potential run, including saying “we’ll see what happens” when he was asked about a still-hypothetical clash with the former Jacksonville newscaster who has become the most prominent and powerful First Lady in Florida history.
Yet polls that have included Casey DeSantis have shown her ahead of the field.
Per a June polling memo from Florida Atlantic University, she leads a field of candidates with 43% support, ahead of Donalds at 19%, with Jimmy Patronis and Matt Gaetz further back still.
A poll conducted in April by FAU showed 38% of 372 Florida Republicans polled would choose the First Lady in a head-to-head race against Gaetz, who would receive 16% support in that scenario.
A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab survey from November 2023 showed the First Lady with 22% support, a lead in a crowded field of potential candidates.
The First Couple is giving quotes suggesting running is not in the cards, though it is worth noting that Ron DeSantis gave similar lines ahead of his presidential campaign in late 2023 and early 2024.
“It’s not something that she’s seeking out,” he said on a Fox News telecast. “People have been asking her to do this for a long time, but she’s not seeking to do anything. But it’s flattering that people are asking her to do it.”
He also said in May that if he “had to hypothesize her interest in getting into the political thicket as a candidate,” he would “characterize it as zero.”
Casey DeSantis previously acknowledged the talk is “humbling,” and maintains that the seeming enthusiasm for her running is due to her “rock star” husband and the job he’s done as the state’s chief executive.
However, published speculation suggests there is more direct dialogue behind the scenes.
Reporting from Matt Dixon of NBC News cites a “source familiar with her thinking” suggesting a 2026 run is a possibility.
“I would say this: I have heard donors have been urging her to run and that while it’s not something she has wanted to do, they are causing her to at least stop and listen,” Dixon reported.
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Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
11 comments
Peachy
February 17, 2025 at 11:56 am
Trump supporting a black man for Governor of Florida. Yet the activist media and others tell us he is racist. More comedy from the Democrats. 🤣
PeterH
February 17, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Historically, criminals stick together in their quest to sanitize criminal behavior! Let’s make criminals great again!
JoeBob
February 17, 2025 at 1:02 pm
My theory on everything is this… Gov. High Heels will have a Lt. Gov position opening up after Nunez takes her new role at FIU. High Heels will appoint his wife Lt. Gov. saying “she is already my top advisor”, or something as equally lame and predictable. Then months down the road he will announce he will be a candidate for the US Senate Seat, and then not long after that will resign as Governor to focus on his campaign. Then High Heels wife will assume The Governor of Florida position and technically be the “Incumbent”, and legally be able to use “Re-Elect” in her campaign, even though she has never even on 1 ballot (AKA Kamala DeSantis). Thus giving her a leg up in any Primary or General Election, as the Incumbent of a pretty solid Red State.
When my theory comes to fruition, I wont say, “told ya so”, but you can buy me a birch beer or Ginger Ale for my prize! For the record I am neither R or D, despise both equally, and consider myself a Fiscal Conservative, while being Socially Liberal within reason.
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
February 17, 2025 at 1:12 pm
A LIBERTARIAN REPLACEMENT FOR BYRON DANIELS IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRENTATIVES.
With all due disclaimers, the Libertarian Party of Florida will doubtless wish him well in his gubernatorial campaign. In fact, I will make a donation to his campaign, in an amount equal to the price of a one-way bus ticket from Naples to Tallahassee.
The good people of his Congressional district deserve a Representative who will stand fearlessly for personal freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government. In other words, a real Libertarian.
Bon appetit.
Larry Gillis, Cape Coral
It's Complicated
February 17, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Donalds is probably the most on-message political figures in the Florida Congressional Delegation (at least on Federal issues). I could easily see Donalds as the VP Candidate when Vance runs for POTUS in 2028. With Moody, Patronis, & Nunez out of the running for Governor in 2026, it improves the odds for Donalds in the remaining field of Wilton Simpson, Matt Gaetz, and possibly Casey DeSantis. If these latter four are the emerging candidates in the 2026 GOP Primary, debates will be worth watching.
Jancie
February 17, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Don Jr Pushed for Trump to pick his fishing buddy Vance. I think the plan is for Vance to pick Baby Trump for VP then Baby Trump can run for Pres after Vance’s 2 terms are Pres. Baby Trump even admitted that he pushed for Vance and his Dad picked Vance for Baby Trump. 4 yrs ago Vance was an Athiest, a Democrat and a total Trump hater and an open border guy.
Skeptic
February 17, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Does Donalds have any known positions on Florida state issues? I understand that he is good and fundraising and endorsements; I guess Florida voters are assumed to care more about the backing of Agent Orange than putting food on their own tables.
It's Complicated
February 17, 2025 at 4:09 pm
He served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives, including time as Chair of the Insurance & Banking Committee so he has exposure to state-level issues and likely has left a news reel trail. He’s outspoken about water quality issues, and he got his start in politics from the Tea Party movement in 2012.
Thomas Hempstead
February 17, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Excellent choice. Fully qualified and talented.
CDF
February 17, 2025 at 7:30 pm
I’m interesting in hearing more about Donalds conversion from an Obama-voting Democrat…and also about his early criminal troubles. Not sure if he’s really been vetted. I’d like to see Gaetz or C. Desantis get in there. And maybe somebody unexpected will appear. Donalds has been pushing hard to climb for the past four years but I haven’t seen him take a risk. He certainly seems to like appearing on liberal political shows. Guess we need to know more on that guy.
CDF
February 17, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Last note: the headline wrongly suggest Trump endorses or want to help Donalds become Governor. Not the case, and nothing to support this. Not journalism. This piece promotes Donalds, out of the blue. Why?