Byron Donalds in dominant position in GOP Primary for Governor, new poll shows

A new poll shows U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds leading the Republican field for Governor against declared candidates and potential entries. And once voters learn Donalds already secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement, his support looks insurmountable.

The internal poll by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates shows Donalds as the “clear frontrunner” against “every ballot variation” tested.

Among just the major candidates already in the running, 47% of Republican Primary voters favor Donalds, compared to 5% for Azoria CEO James Fishback and 4% for former House Speaker Paul Renner. The remainder of respondents were undecided.

The poll of 600 likely Primary voters was taken Jan. 4 through 6, with pollsters reporting a margin of error of 4%.

Should Lt. Gov. Jay Collins enter the race, as funder of a major ad campaign clear want, it wouldn’t change much, according to pollster David Lee. Donalds would still lead with 45% to Collins’ 6%, Fishback’s 4% and Renner’s 3%.

“Any sugar high from Jay Collins’ multimillion ad buy has completely dissipated,” Lee wrote in a polling memo.

The only non-Donalds contender who showed up in double digits in any polling, Lee’s memo shows, is First Lady Casey DeSantis. With the Tallahassee Republican in the field, Lee found Donalds still leading with 39% to DeSantis’ 26%, with Fishback falling to 3% and Renner dropping to 1%. That leaves Donalds’ edge outside the margin of error.

Those totals are without explicitly informing voters of Trump’s endorsement. But the backing of the President has a massive effect on Primary voters’ preferences.

Among the already declared candidates, Donalds’ lead blasts to 76% over Fishback’s 6% and Renner’s 1%.

With Collins in the race, the Trump endorsement has less strength. But Donalds still soars past majority support, winning 58% support to Fishback’s 5%, Collins’ 4% and Renner’s 2%.

Should DeSantis throw her hat in the ring, the poll still shows the Trump effect putting Donalds in a dominant position. When respondents were informed of Trump’s support, about 48% supported Donalds, 21% favored DeSantis, 5% wanted Fishback and 2% supported Renner.

“Despite Casey DeSantis’ last name and Jay Collins’ multimillion ad spend, Byron Donalds is far and away the clear choice to unify Florida Republicans, keep the state red, and defeat the Democrats in November,” Lee wrote.