Beloved MAGA Congressman Builds Massive Polling Lead In Vital Gubernatorial Race

The center of Republican politics is undoubtedly in Florida, where Republicans have slowly built a bulwark against Democratic gains that were once a common occurrence in the former battleground.

But the Sunshine State’s 2026 gubernatorial election appears increasingly determined by the outcome of the Republican primary, where Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) holds a more-than-commanding lead over the rest of the field, according to new polling.

If the election were held today, Donalds would win by a chasmic 35-point margin over his nearest competitor. Nearly 40% of the electorate is already siding with the third-term lawmaker despite the contest still being over 13 months away.

Jay Collins, Florida’s lieutenant governor, sits in second place with an anemic 4%; Paul Renner, the former speaker of the Florida House, took 3% of the vote. More than half of all voters remain undecided.

Going head-to-head against Collins, Donalds’s lead would grow to 40 points. And if Casey DeSantis, the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis, chooses to run, she would trail Donalds by 26 points as well.

The survey by St. Pete Polls included responses from over 1,000 likely voters who were informed about Donalds receiving the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Respondents were also informed that Gov. DeSantis has promised to endorse one of Donalds’s opponents.

Republican primary voters were also asked about their approval for Trump: about 82% said yes while 13% said no, according to FL Politics. They are equally enthusiastic about DeSantis, with 85% supporting his job performance while 11% do not. Nearly 82% of respondents said they believe their state is on the right track.

Despite not winning statewide office, Donalds has maintained a consistent place in the spotlight thanks to his penchant for producing made-for-TV moments in Congress.

Last month, he set off “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) after she suggested Trump and Republicans are fascists.

“Do I look like a member of the Third Reich to you, Ms. Tlaib?” Donalds, who is black, asked her.

He likewise hasn’t shied away from contentious encounters on the campaign trail. When challenged by a liberal protestor who called him a “race traitor,” Donalds calmly quipped, “I’m gonna be your governor, trust me!”

One month after announcing his candidacy, Donalds pulled in a jaw-dropping $12 million in donations. That includes donations to an affiliated political committee, Friends of Byron Donalds, according to FL Politics.

Some of Florida’s biggest Republican donors are behind the third-term representative: He received a $5 million check from billionaire businessman Jeff Yass and a $1 million contribution from Richard Uihlein, the owner of business supply company Uline.

The firebrand congressman reported pulling in $10.2 million in the third quarter, bringing his total haul for the year north of $30 million, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

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