Byron Donalds Leads Florida GOP Primary with Fundraising Surge and Senate Criticism

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican front‑runner for the 2026 Florida governor’s race, publicly attacked the U.S. Senate for failing to pass the SAVE America Act, declaring “The Senate sucks.” His comments came amid a broader GOP debate over voter‑integrity legislation.

Donald’s campaign has amassed a massive cash advantage, adding $253,000 to his campaign account and $435,000 to the Friends of Byron Donalds PAC in the week ending June 19. He now controls nearly $66 million in total cash on hand, far outpacing his primary rivals. By comparison, opponents such as James Fishback, Jay Collins and former House Speaker Paul Renner have raised only tens of thousands to a few million dollars each. No debate is scheduled for the upcoming “Sunshine State Showdown,” and Donald’s allies say this reflects the lack of viable competition.

The fundraising gap underscores Donald’s dominance in the race to succeed term‑limited Governor Ron DeSantis, whose office will be vacant after the midterms.