Donald Trump called it 18 months ago.
The whole party just caught up.
And Ron DeSantis is flying to Tampa to stand next to the man he spent a year trying to stop.
The Endorsement That Ended the Argument
When Trump posted on Truth Social that Byron Donalds was "a TOTAL WINNER" who would work closely with him to advance the America First agenda, DeSantis had a choice to make.
He made the wrong one.
He lobbied billionaire Ken Griffin to fund a Donalds alternative.
Griffin said no.
He refused to take Donalds' calls.
He called for primary debates to elevate Donalds' challengers.
He said Donalds "just hasn't been a part of any of the victories we've had here over the Left."
He said Paul Renner "would have been a good Governor."
https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2094426933572305028?s=20
He did everything except endorse someone.
On August 18, Donalds won the Republican primary with 47.8% of the vote in a field that included DeSantis' own Lieutenant Governor.
Republicans Haven't Lost Florida Since 1994
Donalds walks into November carrying Trump's endorsement, a 1.5-million-voter registration advantage, and nearly $100 million raised.
His opponent is David Jolly – a former Republican congressman who switched parties and now runs as a Democrat.
Florida voters have seen that move before.
In 2022, another Republican-turned-Democrat named Charlie Crist ran against DeSantis and lost by more than 20 points.
The general election polling shows a tighter race than 2022 – Democrats are spending and hoping the national environment helps – but Donalds still leads in the aggregate.
More importantly, he leads with something no poll measures: the full weight of the Republican Party of Florida finally unified behind him.
That's what September 1 in Tampa is really about.
The Handshake That Matters
The event at T. Pepin's Hospitality Center brings DeSantis together with Donalds, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.
https://twitter.com/ByronDonalds/status/2093414208331305274?s=20
It is the first time DeSantis has shared a stage with Donalds since the Alligator Alcatraz grand opening – back when Donalds was still describing their relationship as a "work in progress."
As recently as last Wednesday, DeSantis wouldn't answer a direct question about campaigning with Donalds.
Now he's doing it.
So does the calendar.
DeSantis leaves office in January.
The man who carries the Florida legacy forward is Byron Donalds.
Trump Was Right
Donalds was on Trump's shortlist for Vice President before he ever announced a gubernatorial campaign.
Trump called it first and called it correctly.
The entire Republican apparatus in Florida fell in line – not because DeSantis stood aside, but because the voters said so.
https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2090532207546802365?s=20
Florida hasn't sent a Democrat to the governor's mansion in 32 years.
They're not starting now.
DeSantis built something real in this state – school choice, border enforcement, the national model every Republican governor wants to copy.
Donalds inherits all of it.
The September 1 forum is the moment when every Florida Republican, including the one who fought hardest against this outcome, steps behind the man Trump chose and says: let's win.
Sources:
- A.G. Gancarski, "Ron DeSantis to appear with Byron Donalds at Tampa 'leadership forum,'" Florida Politics, August 27, 2026.
- Gary Fineout, "Donalds claims GOP primary victory in gubernatorial race," CF Public, August 19, 2026.
- Marc Caputo, "Despite Ron DeSantis' lobbying, megadonor Ken Griffin stays on the sidelines in Florida governor's race," NBC News, 2026.
- Jonathan J. Cooper, "Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly set to square off for Florida's governorship," NBC News, August 18, 2026.
- A.G. Gancarski, "New survey finds Byron Donalds ahead of David Jolly as Florida's Governor race tightens," Florida Politics, July 20, 2026.
