Byron Donalds

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and First Lady Casey DeSantis enjoy nearly identical leads in prospective one-on-one gubernatorial matchups versus Democrats David Jolly and Jerry Demings in a public opinion poll out Tuesday.

Erika Donalds, wife of Florida gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds, made a stop at Florida International University on Wednesday night, not to stump for her husband, but to advocate for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and other conservative education reforms, reports POLITICO Florida.

Paul Renner, the Republican former Florida House speaker who has just launched a campaign for governor, lacks the backing of either President Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis. He says he still win the GOP nomination by taking advantage of a deepening rift between DeSantis supporters and Trump loyalists ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race