MIAMI – Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is mulling a run for Florida governor in 2026, he told Fox News last week when he discussed several options for the GOP and Democrats to eschew a possible government shutdown before the Oct.1 deadline.
If Donalds, who represents District 19 which covers areas in Hendry County and east Collier County in the state capitol, seeks the gubernatorial seat and wins, he will become the first Black governor in the state’s history.
But Donalds said his main focus was helping former President Donald Trump win the GOP nomination and beat President Biden in a rematch.
After the presidential election in 2024, Donalds said he will make a decision on running for governor. “I think a lot of people in Florida would like that,” Donalds said.
Another possible big-name candidate is fellow Republican and four-term Congressman Matt Gaetz.
The disagreement over government funding that could lead to a government shutdown put both Gaetz and Donalds on opposing sides in the House.
Donalds approves funding for the House Freedom and Main Street caucuses while Gatze voiced his opposition, saying it funds government agencies that he loathes. “I’m a big fan of Byron Donalds. He’s my friend, and I think he’s terribly misguided,” Gaetz said last week. “I think he’s one of the most effective members we have in this conference. And frankly, I just think we need to get our best players back on side so we can run winning plays again.”
Gaetz recently threatened to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over dissatisfaction with government funding measures. On Tuesday, he succeeded in removing McCarthy.
Other Republicans disagreed with Donalds’ resolution for negotiating a stop gap measure to keep the government funded through October including money for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Donalds also faced criticism from his fellow Republicans for publicly speaking out against Florida’s new African-American History curriculum in which students will be taught that Blacks benefited from slavery by learning job skills.
The course was implemented by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state’s education board. “Slavery was terrible in our country,” Donalds said. “It was terrible for Black people coming to America, and it was just flat out wrong, no doubt about that.” His remarks prompted DeSantis’ team to join other far-right Republicans in comparing Donalds to Vice President Kamala Harris and “swinging for the liberal media fences.”
Donalds, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing, was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, and served as the PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee Chair and as the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee’s Chairman.
While serving in the Florida House, Donalds primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and ensuring that each child has access to a world-class education.
Gaetz, who represents Northwest Florida, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.
His work in Congress focuses on national security, veterans’ affairs, and adherence to constitutional principles.
Gaetz recently made demands to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden despite a lack of evidence linking him to any wrongdoing or criminal charges.
Gaetz has previously faced legal scrutiny amid reports that he sought a preemptive pardon from Trump in 2020 amid a Justice Department investigation examining Gaetz’ alleged role in the sexual trafficking of a 17-yearold girl. Gaetz, who was born in Hollywood, Fla., graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary sciences and earned a law degree from William and Mary School of Law.
With DeSantis, who’s running for president in 2024 and trailing poorly in the polls, term-limited in three years, other candidates are also considering a run for governor including Democratic U.S. Rep. Anna Eskamani and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican.
