Ron DeSantis watched his worst nightmare unfold in Florida.
The Governor's carefully laid succession plans are crashing down around him.
And Trump's endorsement just crushed DeSantis' dreams with this devastating poll.
Byron Donalds is demolishing the Republican field for Florida Governor in 2026 according to a bombshell new poll from American Promise that spells disaster for anyone thinking about challenging him.
The Naples Congressman captured 43% support among likely Republican primary voters surveyed November 17-19.
https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1989049376258371905?s=20
That's more than 20 times higher than his closest competitor, with former House Speaker Paul Renner registering just 2%, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins at 1%, and tech entrepreneur James Fishback barely registering.
More than half the electorate remains undecided, but Trump's golden boy holds a commanding lead that grows stronger the more voters learn about his presidential backing.
When pollsters reminded voters that Trump endorsed Donalds for Governor, support jumped to 58%.
Among the most active Republican voters who participated in all three of the last state primaries, backing surged from 49% initially to 62% when informed of Trump's endorsement.
That's the kind of dominance that clears primary fields.
Trump's Revenge Tour Delivers Florida Knockout Blow
Trump's early endorsement back in February wasn't about helping Donalds.
It was about destroying Ron DeSantis.
The President never forgave DeSantis for the disloyalty of challenging him in 2024 instead of waiting until 2028 like he was supposed to.
Trump spent years bragging that he "got DeSantis in" with his surprise endorsement in December 2017 when the little-known Congressman was still an underdog in the 2018 gubernatorial primary.
DeSantis won that primary by 20 points and squeaked out a narrow general election victory.
He proved to be wildly popular as Governor, winning reelection in 2022 by a stunning 19 percentage points.
That unexpectedly large margin led the ambitious couple to believe 2024 might be their year to challenge Trump.
Wrong.
Trump crushed DeSantis so badly the Governor quit before even reaching Super Tuesday.
Now Trump is exacting his revenge by ensuring DeSantis can't install a successor to extend his legacy.
Casey DeSantis has been exploring a run to succeed her husband, with Ron himself making calls to Tallahassee lobbyists urging them not to back Donalds.
But Trump's endorsement makes that nearly impossible.
Early polls showed Casey DeSantis would be competitive with Donalds in a head-to-head matchup.
Those polls also revealed that when voters learned Trump endorsed Donalds, his lead over the First Lady exploded to nearly 2-to-1.
A March 2025 poll from Fabrizio Lee & Associates found that when voters knew Trump backed Donalds, he led Casey DeSantis 45% to 23%.
The Governor's endorsement of his wife barely moved the needle compared to Trump's support.
Florida Republicans Care About One Thing Above All Else
American Promise Executive Director Ryan Tyson explained that Donalds built his base among the most engaged Republican voters who actually show up in primaries.
The survey revealed what Florida GOP voters actually care about when picking their next Governor.
Specifically, 25% prioritized lower property taxes, 17% want lower homeowner's insurance, and 9% focused on improvements to the state economy.
Illegal immigration was the only non-economic issue breaking into the top tier at 18%.
Everything else barely registered.
Donalds went from nobody to somebody real fast.
Back in January, 40% of Florida Republicans had never even heard his name.
Now nearly three-quarters know exactly who he is, and they like what they see — his favorability is through the roof at +45%.
Spending 2024 as Trump's attack dog on the campaign trail turned Donalds into a MAGA rock star.
That loyalty is now paying massive dividends.
Trump gave Donalds a priceless political shout-out at the inaugural parade rally in January 2025, saying "Stand up, Byron, what a future this one has."
Exactly one month later, Trump delivered his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
Donalds would become Florida's first Black Governor if elected, but Trump's backing matters infinitely more than demographics in today's Republican Party.
President Trump and Governor DeSantis both enjoy strong approval ratings among Florida Republicans, with 84% and 89% respectively.
But when voters must choose between Trump's candidate and DeSantis' candidate, Trump wins every single time.
That's the lesson from 2024 that Casey DeSantis apparently needs to learn again in 2026.
American Promise Executive Director Ryan Tyson said the numbers are promising.
"The 2026 Florida Republican primary remains Donalds' race to lose," Tyson wrote. "His base is strongest among the most active Republican voters, and his support grows significantly once voters are reminded of Trump's endorsement."
The Republican primary takes place August 18, 2026.
Unless something dramatic changes, Byron Donalds will cruise to the nomination.
And Ron DeSantis will watch helplessly as Trump installs his chosen successor to control America's third most-populous state.
¹ Anita Padilla, "Byron Donalds leads Florida GOP governor race; Trump endorsement boosts support," Florida Politics, November 21, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
