Republican Byron Donalds raked in a record $22.2 million in the first quarter of 2026 for his campaign for Governor.
The sitting Congressman, endorsed by President Donald Trump, announced the massive haul. The funding brings his total fundraising over the course of the campaign to north of $67 million.
The quarter marked Donalds’ strongest since he launched his campaign in March 2025, and was the largest total in the first quarter of an election year for a non-incumbent candidate for Governor.
The funding went to both Donalds’ official candidate account and his state political committee, Friends of Byron Donalds.
“Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is laser-focused on defeating the Democrats and keeping Florida Red this November,” said Ryan Smith, Chief Strategist for the Donalds campaign. “Byron Donalds is the America First conservative who will defend the Florida Dream by making the Sunshine State safer and more affordable for families and seniors. As Governor, Byron Donalds will lower our cost of living, protect our communities from illegal immigration, and stop the Radical Democrats from imposing their agenda on our state.”
Donalds faces several Republicans in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Republican Primary opponents include Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, Azoria Capital CEO James Fishback and former House Speaker Paul Renner.
The quarter just closed at the end of the day on Tuesday, so the rapid fundraising announcement shows confidence that Donalds likely outpaced the field in dollars raised.
He has also led n all polling of announced candidates. An American Promise poll in February showed him with nearly a 40% lead on his next closest GOP opponent.
In addition to Trump, Donalds boasts endorsements from Donald Trump, Jr., the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, billionaire Elon Musk, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a majority of Florida sheriffs, U.S. House Leadership, 17 members of Florida’s congressional delegation and three-quarters of the Republican caucus in the Florida House, where he previously served.
