{"id":2653318,"date":"2026-09-01T23:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T03:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-endorses-byron-donalds-for-florida-governor\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T23:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T03:38:43","slug":"desantis-endorses-byron-donalds-for-florida-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-endorses-byron-donalds-for-florida-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis endorses Byron Donalds for Florida governor"},"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\">14<\/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%2Fdesantis-endorses-byron-donalds-for-florida-governor%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=2653318&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>Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) publicly endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds and three other GOP candidates during a Florida GOP forum in Tampa, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout and encouraging Floridians too vote Republican. DeSantis expressed support for the slate, including Attorney General James Uthmeier, CFO Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, stating that active participation is crucial for success. Donalds, who has Trump\u2019s backing, praised DeSantis\u2019s accomplishments in making Florida a model state and expressed honor at receiving his endorsement.Prior to the primary, DeSantis had delayed endorsing a candidate, but ultimately backed Donalds, who defeated Lt.Gov. Jay Collins by about 20 points. The relationship between DeSantis and Donalds has had its ups and downs, notably after Donalds shifted support from DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary to Trump, and amid reports of DeSantis\u2019s team diverting lobbyists from the Donalds campaign.Now with endorsements from both DeSantis and Trump, Donalds is entering the general election against Democrat David Jolly, with recent polls showing a tight race.  <\/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\">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) on Tuesday broke his silence in the race to replace him, endorsing 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) alongside a slate of other GOP candidates in the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"308\"> midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis announced the candidates he is backing at a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> GOP forum in Tampa, where Donalds, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson joined him on stage. The outgoing governor endorsed all four candidates.<\/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\/4709102\/desantis-byron-donalds-endorsement-florida-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DeSantis backs Byron Donalds for Florida governor after withholding endorsement<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4707249\/josh-shapiro-stacy-garrity-ban-flock-cameras\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Josh Shapiro challenger supports ban on Flock cameras in Pennsylvania: \u2018Invasion of privacy\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4705998\/keisha-lance-bottoms-rick-jackson-october-debate-georgia\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson agree to October debate as Georgia gubernatorial race tightens<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m endorsing the slate here tonight, even Blaise Ingoglia, because I know it\u2019s important for the state of Florida,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cApathy is our enemy, and if we\u2019re not apathetic and we understand we\u2019ve got a job to do, I think things will work out well.\u201d<\/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 also encouraged voter turnout, telling Floridians to \u201cstorm the polls\u201d and vote Republican.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donalds, who also has 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>\u2018s support, touted DeSantis\u2019s endorsement on social media, saying he was \u201chonored\u201d to receive the governor\u2019s backing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGovernor DeSantis has done incredible work to make Florida the envy of America,\u201d Donalds said. \u201cAs your next Governor, I will build on his success and defend the Florida Dream.\u201d<\/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\">DeSantis had held off endorsing a candidate in the August primary, although Donalds was long viewed as the almost certain winner. In the primary, Donalds was facing Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who ultimately fell to Donalds by a roughly 20-point margin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Days before voters cast their ballots in the primary, Donalds said he expected a DeSantis endorsement to come after he secured the Republican nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two Florida politicians have had an up-and-down relationship that began when Donalds ditched his backing of DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary to support Trump. Early in the gubernatorial race, reports emerged that DeSantis\u2019s team was steering lobbyists away from the Donalds campaign, though the pair seemed to have repaired the relationship since.<\/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\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/4707550\/florida-desantis-block-flock-camera\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/4707550\/florida-desantis-block-flock-camera\/\">FLORIDA AGENCIES BLOCKED FROM PUTTING FLOCK CAMERAS ON STATE HIGHWAYS AFTER DESANTIS CONCERNS <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now armed with a DeSantis and Trump endorsement, Donalds\u2019s road to November appears less tumultuous. In the general election, Donalds will face former Florida Republican Rep.\u00a0David Jolly, now a Democrat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Donalds has a significant battle coming in November against Jolly, who appears to be doing well among independents in the state, according to recent polling. The two are separated by a 1-point margin in a survey conducted days before the primary. The race is rated \u201clikely Republican\u201d by Cook Political Report.<\/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<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis endorses Byron Donalds and GOP candidates in Florida race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2653319,"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\/09\/image-collage-00lico1ne-1788316753580-e1788316847232.jpg?1788302412&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32322,4980,50784,39035,41680],"class_list":["post-2653318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-byron-donalds","tag-desantis","tag-florida-governor","tag-political-endorsement","tag-republican-candidates"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-collage-00lico1ne-1788316753580-e1788316847232.jpg?1788302412&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653318","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\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2653318"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2653321,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653318\/revisions\/2653321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2653319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2653318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2653318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2653318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}