The 2026 gubernatorial Florida election could be heating up early, as a recent hiring by Rep. Byron Donalds’s (R-FL) campaign might signal he has his eyes on the governor’s mansion next year.
Amid speculation that former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz will launch a gubernatorial bid in next year’s election, Donalds has brought on Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, headed by one of the most prominent pollsters among Republicans, Tony Fabrizio. Previously, Fabrizio worked as a pollster for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for his 2016 campaign and has since been hired by Donalds’s congressional campaign in Florida’s 19th District.
“Tony Fabrizio and his firm have an unmatched record of success across the country and in Florida,” Donalds said. “I’m looking forward to working with Tony, David, and their team to help craft a winning message.”
The hiring comes as Donalds has been considered by many to be a possible candidate for the Republican Party’s Florida gubernatorial election. When asked about his political future in November, Donalds opted to keep his cards to his chest but said he was “not surprised” Trump had not nominated him for a position in the incoming administration.
Gaetz confirmed reports Wednesday that he is “of course” considering a 2026 Florida gubernatorial run, deeming himself “the true Florida man, after all.” The former congressman also cited polls that showed he was in the lead in the event that he did run, but he stressed that “polls change over time.”
Gaetz for Governor? @MattGaetz weighs on the media’s latest hysteria about his political future.
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“My family and I will think and pray about this,” Gaetz said. “We have plenty of time.”
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On the Democratic Party’s side, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) confirmed last year that he is not ruling out the possibility of seeking the governor’s mansion in 2026 while also saying it is still “super early.” Since then, Moskowitz has become the first Democrat to join the House’s Department of Government Efficiency Caucus.
Florida is a state where Republicans have gradually gained more ground over the years, with Trump winning the state in the last three presidential elections after former President Barack Obama won the state twice. The Sunshine State’s 2018 gubernatorial election saw then-candidate Ron DeSantis just barely win against Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum, yet DeSantis resoundingly won reelection against former Gov. Charlie Crist by over 19% in 2022.
