Rep. Byron Donalds hit a major milestone today in his run for Florida Governor. The candidate announced he has now secured the support of 35 sheriffs across the state. This is a key number for the campaign because it means more than half of all sheriffs in Florida are officially in his corner.
The news broke after two more law enforcement leaders, Sheriff Eric Aden of Okaloosa County and Sheriff David Harper of Madison County, added their names to the list.
This comes right on the heels of a busy week for Donalds. Just yesterday, he picked up support from sheriffs in Calhoun, Franklin, Jefferson, and Liberty counties. Last week, he also received endorsements from Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who is one of the most well-known figures in Florida law enforcement.
READ: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Backs Byron Donalds In Race For Florida Governor
Donalds seems to be building a large coalition of supporters. Aside from the 35 sheriffs, he has already been endorsed by President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He also has the backing of 17 members of Florida’s congressional delegation and about 75% of the Republicans in the Florida House.
Ryan Smith, the lead strategist for the campaign, believes this wave of support sends a clear message. He described Donalds as the “law and order” candidate.
“As Governor, Byron Donalds will partner with President Trump and law enforcement to make Florida the safest state in America,” Smith said.
The campaign is hoping these endorsements will keep their momentum going. They recently reported a large haul in fundraising for the fourth quarter. According to their team, recent polls show Donalds with a strong lead over his Republican primary opponents and a solid margin against potential Democratic challengers.
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