U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has reportedly raked in $40 million for his Florida gubernatorial bid since launching his run in February, the Donalds campaign announced in a confident, year-end memo this week.
"Byron Donalds enters 2026 as the most dominant gubernatorial candidate in Florida history," the memo reads. "Powered by President Trump's endorsement, Byron Donalds has the greatest grassroots support, financial resources, and organization to win the governorship."
President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Donalds a few days ahead of his official announcement in a Truth Social Post.
According to the Donalds campaign, the $40 million goldmine has come from 24,000 donors in Florida and across the United States. The campaign also indicated that the amount surpassed its own financial expectations.
Donalds is looking to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee after next year. While he has received an endorsement from President Trump, the governor has yet to come around to his possible successor.
Gov. DeSantis is also likely not to endorse anyone before the Republican primary, which is set for Aug 18, 2026. However, that hasn't stopped Donalds from singing the governor's praises in a recent interview with The Floridian.
But a Gov. DeSantis endorsement might not matter either way. The campaign claimed its $40 million war chest is more than 2 1/2 times what then-candidate DeSantis raised in 2018 for governor, and $3 million more than candidate Adam Putnam, who virtually disappeared after Trump endorsed DeSantis in the race.
Money talks.
Donalds has also led in most neutral polls. Last month, a Victory Insights poll showed Donalds with 45% of the vote, with all other candidates or potential candidates in single digits.
Other challengers include former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Azoria CEO James Fishback. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, while rumored, has yet to jump into the race.
"Byron Donalds has built and maintained a durable lead in every credible poll of this race," the memo added.
The gubernatorial general election is Nov. 3.
