Byron Donalds is already writing off the Democrat Party in Florida.
The Naples Congressman made that clear during a recent interview.
And Byron Donalds says it doesn't matter which Democrat he faces after Ron DeSantis put them on life support.
DeSantis left Florida Democrats in shambles
Byron Donalds appeared on Clay and Buck and didn't mince words about the state of Florida's Democrat Party heading into 2026.
The Congressman made it clear he's not worried about who Democrats nominate for Governor because Ron DeSantis already destroyed their operation.
"Gov. DeSantis, during his leadership, he's really put the Florida Democratic Party on life support," Donalds stated. "They're in bad shape over there. They know they're in bad shape over there."
That assessment is actually more diplomatic than what DeSantis himself has said about Florida Democrats.
The current Governor described the opposition party as a "dead, rotten carcass."
New polling from the University of North Florida backs up Donalds' confidence about facing any Democrat challenger.
The survey shows Donalds crushing both former U.S. Representative David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings in hypothetical matchups.¹
Donalds pulls 45% support against both potential Democrat nominees, while Jolly and Demings each get stuck at just 34%.¹
Those numbers show just how far Florida Democrats have fallen under DeSantis' leadership.
"Whatever the Democrats, whoever they choose to throw at us, so be it," Donalds declared. "We'll take care of them."
The Congressman isn't showing any concern about Democrat opposition because there's simply nothing left of their party infrastructure in Florida.
First Lady Casey DeSantis polls even stronger than Donalds
The UNF poll revealed something interesting about the 2026 Governor's race dynamics.
First Lady Casey DeSantis actually outperforms Donalds in head-to-head matchups against the same Democrat opponents.²
Casey DeSantis draws 47% support against Jolly, who gets 34%, and Demings, who pulls 36%.²
Those numbers suggest that if the First Lady decides to run, she would enter the race as the frontrunner in both the Primary and General Election.
But Donalds isn't waiting around to see what happens with other potential Republican candidates.
He's already putting in the groundwork across Florida while others are still deciding whether to jump in.
"Whoever else decides that they're going to run and jump in, they got a lot of work to catch up on and it's not going to be easy," Donalds warned.
The Congressman emphasized he's going "county by county" and "seeing people day in and day out" to build support.
That retail politicking matters in a Republican Primary where multiple strong candidates could split the vote.
Donalds leads crowded Republican field
The First Lady remains a potential candidate who could reshape the entire race if she announces.
Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is also considering a run and says he'll decide "soonish" about getting in.
Former House Speaker Paul Renner has already jumped into the race and is actively campaigning.
But none of that seems to concern Donalds based on recent polling numbers.
A St. Pete Polls survey shows Donalds dominating the Republican Primary field with 39% support.³
Renner and Nuñez each poll below 4% in that same survey.³
Those numbers demonstrate Donalds has successfully consolidated support among Republican voters while other potential candidates are still testing the waters.
The Congressman's early start and aggressive campaigning schedule appears to be paying dividends.
His confidence about beating any Democrat opponent makes sense given how DeSantis systematically dismantled the Florida Democrat Party's electoral infrastructure over the past seven years.
Donalds clearly believes he can continue that winning streak regardless of which Democrat decides to run against him in 2026.
¹ A.G. Gancarski, "Byron Donalds says it doesn't matter which Democrat he faces after Ron DeSantis put them on life support," Florida Politics, October 29, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
