It’s not an explicit endorsement, but President Donald Trump shared a poll Monday showing Naples Congressman Byron Donalds the solid leader in a theoretical Florida governor’s race. Trump’s Truth Social post had more than 7,100 likes by 5 p.m.
Donalds hasn’t declared, but according to Victory Polling, with 31% of the hypothetical vote, he would trounce Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez (4%), Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson (3%) and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (1%).
Trump posted the survey along with a list of Republican Donalds’ “notable committed supporters” that includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who was often mentioned with Donalds as a potential Trump vice-presidential pick.
The poll was January 26-27 of 850 likely Republican primary voters throughout Florida and “was not commissioned by any candidate or committee,” according to the report.
Donalds didn’t immediately return requests for comment but has reportedly told donors he’s “launching a bid” for the office.
If so, a Trump endorsement would be golden.
Byron Donalds, a Republican from Naples, represents most of Lee and Collier counties in Congress as the Florida District 19 U.S. Representative.
Lee County GOP chair Michael Thompson would expect no less. “President Trump supports Byron to the moon and back.”
Florida Gulf Coast University instructor Cindy Banyai, who twice ran against Donalds for U.S. Congressional District 19 isn’t convinced Donalds will find as much support as he’d like. “I’m not sure how well the people of Florida are going to receive him,” Banyai said. “He’s made a name for himself as a media personality (but) he hasn’t had a lot of tangible results for us here in Southwest Florida.”
Running for governor would not be “an unexpected move from Byron,” Banyai said, “Considering he did not get any of the cabinet positions … I guess his consolation prize is Trump supporting him for Florida’s governor.”
Southwest Florida GOP strategist Terry Miller said if the race were tomorrow, “Byron is hands-down the front-runner.” As for his relationship with the president, Donalds has long been a national Trump surrogate; Donalds sat next to Trump at the GOP convention (“not on the same section; not in the same row, but next to him”) and the two shared a flight to the Daytona 500 last weekend. “So their relationship is pretty deep,” Miller said.
And yet.
“A lot can happen in 21 months,” when Florida’s gubernatorial primary takes place, Miller said.
“With politics, you just don’t know the unknown.”
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Byron Donalds far ahead in would-be FL governor poll shared by Trump
