Overview
- DeSantis publicly endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds on Tuesday night at the Florida GOP Leadership Forum in Tampa and introduced the party’s statewide ticket to supporters.
- The governor also backed Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, presenting a single Republican slate onstage.
- DeSantis had withheld endorsements during the August primary after Donalds beat Lt. Gov. Jay Collins by a large margin, a pause that followed a period of tension between DeSantis and Donalds going back to the 2024 presidential primary.
- Donalds, who also has President Trump’s support, used the forum to attack Democratic nominee David Jolly’s insurance proposal as 'socialism' and to cast the contest as a choice over preserving DeSantis-era policies.
- Analysts rate the November contest favorable to Republicans but not locked up, with the Cook Political Report calling it 'likely Republican' and polls showing independent voters and turnout will be decisive.