U.S. Representative Byron Donalds has officially qualified to run in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race, locking in his spot on the ballot for the upcoming Republican primary.

Financial Backing and Campaign Efforts

Donalds enters the race with significant financial backing. His campaign announced that it has raised over $81 million across his campaign accounts and political action committees, pulling in donations from more than 35,000 individual donors. On the ground, field workers have already knocked on 72,400 doors across the state to build voter outreach.

The Donalds campaign released a statement looking forward to both the primary and a potential general election matchup against Democrat David Jolly.

“Byron Donalds is qualified and ready to lead Florida into the future as our next governor,” said Team Donalds Chief Strategist Ryan Smith. “Byron is the Trump-endorsed conservative fighter who will make the Sunshine State more affordable and defend the Florida Dream for future generations. Byron Donalds will lead Florida Republicans to victory against flip-flopping phony David Jolly, a radical Democrat whose extreme liberal agenda will make life more expensive and less safe for Florida families.”

Recent Polling and Campaign Outlook

Recent statewide polling shows strong support for Donalds among Republican primary voters, positioning him as a leading contender to represent the party on the November ballot.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.