{"id":2646006,"date":"2026-08-17T11:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-candidates-struggle-to-win-desantiss-endorsement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T11:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:55:00","slug":"florida-gop-candidates-struggle-to-win-desantiss-endorsement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-candidates-struggle-to-win-desantiss-endorsement\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida GOP candidates struggle to win DeSantis&#8217;s endorsement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-gop-candidates-struggle-to-win-desantiss-endorsement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646006&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Several Republican candidates are competing in Florida\u2019s gubernatorial primary, but none have received endorsements from Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been abstaining from supporting any contender. Byron Donalds, a congressman, leads the race by double digits and is supported by former President Donald Trump, which boosts his chances of winning. Despite DeSantis\u2019s past critiques of Donalds, the candidate hopes to secure his support before the November general election, where he may face Democrat David Jolly. <\/p>\n<p>DeSantis has criticized Donalds for his congressional record, emphasizing that Donalds has not contributed to Florida\u2019s recent victories. Other primary candidates include Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who has attacked Donalds on social media, and James Fishback, a long-shot outsider hoping DeSantis and his wife will vote for him. former Florida House Speaker paul Renner also campaigns, receiving praise from desantis, though the governor questioned his campaign strategy. <\/p>\n<p>desantis&#8217;s term ends in January 2027 due to term limit restrictions. It remains uncertain whether he will endorse any candidate before the election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of the top four candidates in the Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/primaries\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2655\">primary<\/a> for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> governor have been endorsed by Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"575\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) ahead of Tuesday\u2019s election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis has refused to lend his support to any of the contenders for some time now, but Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-donalds\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"6250\">Byron Donalds<\/a> (R-FL) is confident he can win the governor\u2019s endorsement should the congressman win the primary.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4689463\/florida-gop-candidates-struggle-desantis-endorsement-gubernatorial-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Florida GOP candidates struggle to win DeSantis\u2019s endorsement before gubernatorial primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4675324\/what-to-know-james-fishback-byron-donalds\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What to know about James Fishback as he tries to undermine Byron Donalds<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4687212\/bruce-blakeman-trump-centrist-new-york-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bruce Blakeman juggles Trump alliance with crossover appeal in New York governor\u2019s race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donalds is outpacing each of his opponents \u2014 Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R-FL), businessman James Fishback, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner \u2014 by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/governor\/2026\/florida\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/elections\/governor\/2026\/florida\">double digits<\/a>. Donalds is endorsed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, whose support will surely boost the Republican front-runner\u2019s chances of winning in the red state.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis, however, has been critical of Donalds in the past.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ve got a guy like Byron, he just hasn\u2019t been a part of any of the victories that we\u2019ve had here over the Left over these last few years,\u201d DeSantis said at a press conference in February 2025, around the time Donalds launched his campaign for governor. \u201cHe\u2019s just not been a part of it. He\u2019s been in other states campaigning doing that and that\u2019s fine, but OK, then deliver results up there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The House Republican\u2019s primary opponents have also taken shots at his time spent in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"31\">Congress<\/a>, arguing he hasn\u2019t done enough in his federal office for Floridians.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the governor\u2019s criticism, Donalds said he anticipates having his support in the months leading up to the general election. If he becomes the Republican nominee, Donalds will likely face Republican-turned-Democrat David Jolly, a former congressman, in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGov. DeSantis and all Republicans in our state know that we can leave nothing to chance,\u201d Donalds <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EricLDaugh\/status\/2089130019113120102\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EricLDaugh\/status\/2089130019113120102\">told Fox News<\/a> on Sunday. \u201cWe can\u2019t just rest in our laurels. I anticipate to have the governor\u2019s support, and we move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> contacted DeSantis\u2019s office for comment on whether he will ultimately back the Republican nominee for governor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Renner has been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Paul_Renner\/status\/2089312577788461388\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Paul_Renner\/status\/2089312577788461388\">touting<\/a> the outgoing governor\u2019s recent words of praise toward him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think he\u2019d be really good [as governor]. He\u2019s got a great record of policy,\u201d DeSantis <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FLVoiceNews\/status\/2085417251180556773\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FLVoiceNews\/status\/2085417251180556773\">said<\/a> of Renner earlier this month, though he did offer his honest opinion of the candidate\u2019s campaign. \u201cWhat\u2019s your strategy to get known?\u201d he said, implying Renner hasn\u2019t been doing enough to reach voters in the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JayCollinsFL\/status\/2089088558933971213\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JayCollinsFL\/status\/2089088558933971213\">focused his campaign attacks<\/a> against Donalds on social media, suggesting the front-runner won\u2019t put Florida residents first if he\u2019s elected as the state\u2019s next governor. The lieutenant governor has not been endorsed by DeSantis, even though the two work together.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fishback, who is considered to be the long-shot candidate with no prior political experience, hopes DeSantis and his wife, Casey, will vote for him on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen the first lady and the governor go to vote, I would be honored to have their vote,\u201d Fishback previously told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in an interview. \u201cThey\u2019re going to view it as really a two-man race between two men [Fishback v. Donalds] with radically different visions for our state, and I would be honored to earn that vote on Aug. 18.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4675324\/what-to-know-james-fishback-byron-donalds\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4675324\/what-to-know-james-fishback-byron-donalds\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT JAMES FISHBACK AS HE TRIES TO UNDERMINE BYRON DONALDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It remains to be seen if DeSantis will vote for one of the candidates in the primary election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incumbent leaves office in January 2027 because he is not allowed to run for a third consecutive term under the Florida Constitution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis hasn&#8217;t endorsed any Florida GOP primary candidates yet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2646007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26218688884240.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4980,5113,6203,35736],"class_list":["post-2646006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-desantis","tag-florida","tag-gop","tag-political-endorsements"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26218688884240.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646006"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646009,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646006\/revisions\/2646009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}