The race for the Florida governor’s mansion saw a significant shift this week as state legislative leaders and statewide officials solidified their support behind U.S. Representative Byron Donalds.
State Senators Jay Trumbull and Tom Leek are the latest Republican lawmakers to officially endorse Donalds, joining a rapidly growing list of high-profile party figures backing his gubernatorial bid.
Senator Trumbull, who represents Northwest Florida, announced his endorsement alongside Senator Leek, a longtime conservative lawmaker.
Their announcements follow a series of clearing-the-field endorsements for Donalds, which include the incoming Florida House Speaker, the incoming Senate President, and the state’s entire executive Cabinet—Chief Financial Officer Wilton Simpson, Commissioner of Agriculture Blaise Ingoglia, and Attorney General James Uthmeier.
“Jay Trumbull has earned the trust of Northwest Florida through years of hard work, conservative leadership, and fighting for the values that matter to Florida families,” Donalds said in a statement following the announcement. “I’m grateful to have him standing with me in this race, and I’m looking forward to working alongside him to cut taxes, cut red tape, and keep Florida the freest state in the nation.”
Donalds also praised the backing of Senator Leek, highlighting his track record in the state legislature.
“I’m honored to have Senator Tom Leek’s support,” Donalds said. “Tom has been a consistent conservative leader in the Florida legislature, and I look forward to partnering with him to build on Florida’s success by growing our economy, cutting unnecessary government waste, and ensuring our state remains the nation’s leader in freedom and opportunity.”
The legislative endorsements arrived at the same time U.S. Senator Ashley Moody announced her formal support for Donalds. The two are scheduled to launch a joint statewide campaign tour across Florida, framing the partnership as a demonstration of party unity.
The political momentum is mirrored by substantial financial backing. The Byron Donalds for Governor Campaign, operating alongside the Friends of Byron Donalds political committee, announced they have raised a combined total of $90 million over the course of the election cycle.
According to campaign financial disclosures, that total includes $23 million brought in during the second quarter alone, driven by contributions from 37,000 individual donors.
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