Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) isn’t rushing to lift up Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) as Florida’s next governor despite President Donald Trump’s recent preemptive endorsement of the congressman for 2026. DeSantis expressed doubt that Donalds should be looking at the gubernatorial race and encouraged him to focus on achieving legislative accomplishments with a slim Republican majority.

DeSantis touted his wife as a staunch conservative who would build on his legacy and argued that the state’s first lady could pull in even more voters than he did.