Overview
- Recent surveys put Byron Donalds near 38 percent in the GOP field as his campaign reports raising more than $40 million.
- Former House Speaker Paul Renner has entered, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has flirted with a bid, and James Fishback is running while courting groyper support and using racially charged attacks on Donalds.
- Democrats have yet to consolidate support, with former Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings among declared candidates.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing a November 2026 referendum to eliminate property taxes for homesteaded homeowners and has signaled interest in a congressional remap that could cost Democrats seats.
- A criminal grand jury is investigating whether $10 million in Medicaid funds were steered to a committee tied to DeSantis, and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been indicted on allegations she stole $5 million in disaster aid.