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RepublicanNaples / Southwest Florida

Byron Donalds

U.S. Representative (FL-19)

U.S. Representative (FL-19); former state legislator

Trump-endorsed frontrunner for governor. Three-term SW Florida congressman and former state representative.

Photo: Wikipedia: Byron Donalds

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Party

Republican

Hometown

Naples / Southwest Florida

Occupation

U.S. Representative (FL-19); former state legislator

On ballot

Governor

Raised

$99.4M

Full biography

Byron Donalds represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District (Collier and Lee counties) and is the leading Republican in the 2026 open-seat race for governor after Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited. A former Florida House member, he has built a national profile as a conservative media presence and close ally of President Trump, who endorsed him for governor. In Congress he has focused on economic growth, school choice, border security, and opposing progressive cultural policies. His campaign has raised tens of millions, leads multi-pollster averages, and dominates prediction markets heading into the Aug. 18 primary. Rivals have criticized him for skipping multi-candidate GOP debates; Donalds has instead challenged Democratic contender David Jolly to general-election debates and rolled out policy themes including a “Healthy Florida Healthy Families” initiative on children’s food and water standards.

Offices & experience

U.S. House — Florida’s 19th District (2021–present)
Florida House of Representatives (2016–2020)

Education

Florida State University (B.S., finance & marketing)

Issues & themes

Continue Florida’s conservative policy trajectory after DeSantisEconomic growth, energy, and cost of livingSchool choice and parental rightsBorder security and public safetyHealth / food & water standards for families

Notable endorsements

President Donald TrumpSen. Rick ScottSen. Ashley MoodyClub for GrowthTurning Point ActionAmericans for Prosperity

What they're up to lately

2026-08-04WUSF

Statewide media interviews on campaign finance & policy

Discussed fundraising, data centers, environment, and the closing stretch of the primary on Florida public radio and local outlets.

Links

Compare candidates Money tracker

Money, donators & connections

Full money tracker →

GovernorState + FEC

Byron Donalds

U.S. Representative (FL-19)

Raised

$99.4M

Spent

$32.7M

The money story

Dominates the governor money race: ~$99M in Florida state filings, powered by megadonors (Griffin, Yass, Uihlein) plus Club for Growth, Seminole Tribe, GEO Group, and NextEra. Federal House committee is residual cash for FL-19, not the governor war chest.

Federal (FEC)?

U.S. House FL-19 (not governor)

Total raised$738K

Total spent$2.14M

Cash on hand$334K

Individuals?$534K

PACs / other committees$57K

Transfers in$79K

· Federal receipts are modest because the governor race files in Tallahassee, not with the FEC.
· ~$1.2M in “other disbursements” on the House committee (often related transfers).

Florida state filings?

Total contributions$99.4M

Total expenditures$32.7M

Florida campaign finance via Transparency USA · data through 6/30/2026

Top donators

Kenneth GriffinIndividual$10.0M
Citadel founder
Jeff YassIndividual$7.50M
Susquehanna
Seminole Tribe of FloridaEntity$4.00M
Club for Growth PACPAC$3.75M
GOPAC Election Fund (federal)PAC$2.00M
Richard UihleinIndividual$2.00M
Uline

Connections

Finance megadonors
Griffin ($10M), Yass ($7.5M), Uihlein ($2M), Peterffy ($1.2M) — national donor class.
Club for Growth
$3.75M PAC — aligns with Trump endorsement + fiscal-right infrastructure.
Tribal & corrections
Seminole Tribe $4M; GEO Group $1.5M — major FL industry players.
Energy
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings $1M.
Leadership PAC
Proven Conservatives PAC (federal) alongside House committee.

Committees

BYRON DONALDS FOR CONGRESSprincipalC00733329
PROVEN CONSERVATIVES PACleadership-pacC00755728
Byron Donalds (state)state
Friends of Byron Donaldsstate
Friends of Byron Donalds PACother

FL state filings aggregate ↗House FL-19 federal committee ↗Full profile →

Snapshot as of 2026-08-08 · coverage through 2026-06-30. Numbers are public filings — always verify on FEC / FL DOS.

Races & numbers

Rank #1Poll: 46.6%Market: 98.3%

Statewide·GOP primaryFeatured

Governor

Tue, Aug 18, 2026

→

Open seat — Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited. Winner is the Republican nominee for November 3, 2026. Eleven Republicans qualified. Byron Donalds leads public polls and prediction markets.

Others in the same primary

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Profiles summarize public sources (Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, campaign sites, Florida press). Not affiliated with any campaign. Polls and markets refresh about every minute when data exists.