‘Leader in the clubhouse’: Byron Donalds sees JD Vance as 2028 favorite
Image via AP.

VANCE ASSOCIATED PRESS
'It's going to be tough for anybody that wants to take him on.'

The man who could be the next GOP nominee for Governor doesn’t seem enthused about Ron DeSantis’ chances in a potential second bid for the White House.

During an interview with the Full Send Podcast, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds deemed Vice President JD Vance to be the “leader in the clubhouse” for the 2028 contest.

“I would say we’re kind of in the first round right now at the Masters. He’s got the lead,” Donalds said. “Incredibly good. Incredibly smart.”

Donalds also believes Vance’s hardscrabble youth can appeal to “guys in the inner city.”

“I think a lot of guys in the inner city, if they take a chance to look at JD, they realize JD, although he grew up as a hillbilly, didn’t really grow up much different than a lot of us,” Donalds said.

“Drugs in your community, drugs in your house. JD’s family life was much tougher than my family life,” Donalds added. “He was able to persevere and overcome that and still love his family and still try to do good things. I mean, that’s a success story.”

Donalds concluded that “it’s going to be tough for anybody that wants to take him on.”

Indeed, polls suggest DeSantis would start any race against Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” at a marked disadvantage.

A survey from Atlas Intel, which was conducted between April 10 and April 14, shows Vance leading DeSantis 60% to 9%. That’s one of many polls where Vance has majority support and DeSantis lingers in single digits.

The disaffection for DeSantis extends to right-wing activists.

At a straw poll conducted at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, DeSantis mustered 7% support, finishing far behind Vance’s 61%.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


6 comments

  • R. Russell

    April 24, 2025 at 4:43 pm

    Byron who – oh that’s the Publicity POS – stating the obvious to his print media W…e!

  • Foghorn Leghorn

    April 24, 2025 at 4:56 pm

    JD Vance would be an excellent pick. I do worry about him in a debate with either AOC or Jasmine. 🤣🤣

  • Michael K

    April 24, 2025 at 9:14 pm

    Vice President Maybelline? Which version? How much?

    • MH/Duuuval

      April 25, 2025 at 9:25 am

      I prefer anti-monopoly Maybelle.

      However, even this version of the hillbilly poser is sold out to private equity. Not sure how both can exist side by side.

  • LexT

    April 25, 2025 at 9:20 am

    Byron, right now you are the king of way too early endorsements. You are fighting Ron Desantis in your home state, when Ron Desantis is probably the current front runner for the 48th Presidency. I like JD Vance too, but Ron Desantis provided proven leadership regarding COVID. It is Ron’s turn and it would be good for Florida and the USA to have Ron Desantis as the 48th president.

    • MH/Duuuval

      April 25, 2025 at 9:27 am

      No PR genius can make Dee’s oafishness go away.

Comments are closed.


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