Byron Donalds Reports Record $22.2 Million First-Quarter Haul in Florida Governor Race

The surge strengthens his position as the Republican frontrunner in the open race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Overview

Donalds’ campaign said it raised $22.2 million in the first quarter of 2026, a record first‑quarter total for a non‑incumbent candidate for governor.
The haul pushed his campaign’s cumulative receipts above $67 million, according to the campaign.
Funds flowed into both his official candidate account and his state political committee, Friends of Byron Donalds.
The campaign touts support from high‑profile conservatives including President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Elon Musk, Sen. Rick Scott, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, plus a majority of Florida sheriffs.
Polling shows Donalds leading the GOP field, with an American Promise survey reporting a near 40‑point edge and a University of North Florida poll placing him first in scenarios with or without Casey DeSantis.