At CPAC, Byron Donalds Hints of Bid for Florida Governor

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., teased a possible run for governor of Florida in his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, as he touted the Sunshine State as a model for conservative governance.

Donalds’ speech to the annual gathering, held just outside Washington, came the day after President Donald Trump endorsed his likely 2026 run for governor of the state of Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited.

“I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest, most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER!” said Trump on Truth Social on Thursday. “As Governor, Byron would have a BIG Voice and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda.”

Donalds diplomatically addressed that early on in his speech, saying that Trump personally called him to tell him about the Truth Social post while he was in Florida the night before.

 “I get a phone call, and it’s from the president, and he talks to me about what he just put out on Truth Social. And I just want to say, ‘Mr. President, thank you. And I will never let you down,’” said Donalds, before quickly pivoting to other topics.

But Donalds left hints throughout the speech that he’s keen to run for governor with the support of Trump.

“In my state, some of the things that we’re going to do on Capitol Hill, we’ve been doing in Florida,” Donalds said. “You know, the phrase down in Florida is ‘Make America Florida.’ There’s a reason why citizens have been leaving blue states to go to Florida.”

The congressman proceeded to praise Florida’s commitment to “principles of individual liberty and limited government,” using school choice laws as an example.

“And our leaders, Governor DeSantis and before him, Governor [Rick] Scott. And all of the men and women who have served in our legislature, myself included … we were committed to making sure that there was a state that people could go to, to chase the American dream.”

Donald’s speech was light on talk of his legislative goals in Washington, as he praised the Trump administration and the Florida government, but seldom mentioned his current work as a congressman—a likely attempt to identify himself with the successes of conservative governance in Florida.

“Let me tell you this: Florida is not going to stop leading. We’re going to build off of what we’ve done, and we’re going to continue to lead bigger, better, faster, greater, safer, freer … and we’re going to show the other 49 states how to get it done,” he said.

Donalds closed his speech by praising the Trump administration’s work, which he says will bring “the golden age, and it will do tremendous things for the people that live here.”

He added, “And as for me? Stay tuned.”

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