With DeSantis on defense, Byron Donalds drops by the Florida Capitol
The same week Ron DeSantis is on defense over his wife’s key initiative, former ally and now opponent Byron Donalds was in the Florida Capitol on Thursday glad-handing with lawmakers and chatting with the press.
Donalds, a Republican U.S. representative from Naples now campaigning for the 2026 Florida governor’s race, would be Casey DeSantis’ biggest opponent should she run to replace her husband as governor this summer. He told the press Thursday that he was in town because he had an opening in his schedule — a nod to the U.S. House shutting down over a dispute about proxy voting for new parents.
As an official candidate, his trip was inevitable. Donalds needs to shore up endorsements and support with donors, especially with the first lady’s name still floating in fundraising circles. His trip came amid friction in the Capitol, where the governor has been lashing out against House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican who has yet to endorse in the race.
Donalds called the feud between DeSantis and Perez “pretty typical” for the legislative process.
“I think the most unfortunate thing is now it’s spilling out” into public view, Donalds said.
Donalds also met with the Senate president and went to the governor’s office, though it’s unclear whether the governor was in. But Donalds started his rounds on the House floor, where he once sat as a state representative, and where he hugged the speaker, an embrace that was quickly posted to social media.
The governor’s feud with the speaker escalated this week. On Monday, DeSantis expressed anxiety in a governor’s mansion speech to the Republican base that Democrats could have a comeback if the House continues to buck his legislative priorities. On Tuesday, DeSantis accused the House of working with the media to undermine his proposal to enshrine into law a program his wife created in 2021 called Hope Florida. It would likely be her launching pad for her campaign and could assuage voters over her lack of experience, given that Casey DeSantis has never been elected to public office.
But the charity arm of Hope Florida doesn’t appear to be filing its federal tax returns, or to be complying with state law, according to an analysis by the Republican-controlled House first reported by the Herald/Times.
Donalds, though, sidestepped the drama from earlier in the week and defended DeSantis.
“The governor has been transparent on just about everything that he’s been doing with our state. I anticipate he’s going to do the same thing” here, Donalds said. “He and the Legislature are going to work through these issues.”
DeSantis’ worry about a Democratic comeback surfaced this week amid negative press for Republicans. Democrats won a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat where the Republican was financially backed by Elon Musk. And they made Republicans sweat in closer-than-expected GOP wins in red Florida congressional districts.
The stock market slid Thursday after President Donald Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on all countries.
Donalds said the public backed Trump’s economic policies. And he said the press shouldn’t read into the election results.
“Democrats obviously are motivated because they got beat down in November,” Donalds said. “If you’re trying to figure out where the public mood is right now based upon those races, I think that’s inaccurate.”
Donalds added: “We’re not even done unleashing the president’s agenda. Tariff policy was one piece of it.”
What else is coming: tax cuts and business deregulation, he said.
“You put all that together, you have a recipe for stable and strong growth prospects in our country going forward,” Donalds said. “That will play well in elections.”