A new "informal" straw poll conducted by the Republican Liberty Caucus in Northeast Florida shows that former Speaker Paul Renner leads the lead of 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidates by a significant margin.
According to the group, the 105 surveyed in a two day span were members of the "local Republican Liberty Caucus & Republican Party."
Speaker Renner received 57.1 percent of the vote with Rep. Byron Donalds receiving 27.6 percent of the vote. Lt. Governor Jay Collins came in third with 8.6 percent support.
In response to the poll, Renner took a jab at Rep. Donalds, saying that when voters "compare" his record in the state legislature to Rep. Donalds' overall record, "there's no comparison."
“Voters want a governor with proven leadership—someone grounded in experience, not hype or smoke and mirrors—who will deliver real results that solve their challenges. When they compare my record and results to Congressman Donalds, there’s no comparison. The results in Duval County will continue to play out across the state as voters take a closer look at the candidates in this two-person race,” said Renner.
