'Show of force': Trump ally kicking off campaign in race to succeed Florida Gov DeSantis

GOP Rep. Byron Donalds formally launches his campaign for Florida governor on Friday with what is being billed as a hometown kickoff rally.

The conservative lawmaker, who has represented Florida's 19th Congressional District in the southwest part of the state for four years, is currently the only major Republican to jump into the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Donalds, a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, announced his candidacy during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" late last month, days after landing the president's endorsement.

Additionally, two MAGA world rock-stars - Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, and Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and commentator who leads the powerful Turning Point USA youth organization - have recorded videos for Donalds' campaign kick-off, sources tell Fox News. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson will speak in person at the event.

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The campaign event, in Bonita Springs, comes as Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has acknowledged she is considering a 2026 gubernatorial run to succeed her husband in Tallahassee.

"I think what you’ll see is a show of force and I think the support and the momentum that Bryon is generating across the state, whether it’s fundraising or grassroots support, will be evident," veteran Republican strategist and Florida native Stephen Lawson told Fox News.

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Lawson - who served as an adviser to DeSantis as well as his predecessor in Tallahassee, former governor and current Sen. Rick Scott - emphasized that "with President Trump’s backing, Donalds is the person to beat in this race."

DeSantis has repeatedly touted his wife's accomplishments as Florida first lady and framed her as a worthy successor.

Additionally, Casey DeSantis, late last month, stoked speculation when asked by reporters if she would run.

"To quote the late Yogi Berra," DeSantis said as she reiterated a famous line from the late baseball legend. "If you see a fork in the road, take it."

The governor then quipped to reporters that "you guys can read into that what you will."

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When asked this month at the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, if she might launch a campaign, Casey DeSantis said "we'll see."

Sources last month confirmed to Fox News that the governor has been reaching out to donors on behalf of his wife.

The next campaign cash filing deadline in the Florida governor's race comes at the end of this weekend, and a source in the congressman's political orbit predicted to Fox News that Donalds would "easily eclipse" the $1 million DeSantis raised in his first month as a gubernatorial candidate in his successful 2018 campaign to succeed Scott as governor.

"I think he’s going to show a really strong fundraising number," added another Florida-based Republican strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.

Donalds has been complimentary of Gov. DeSantis.

"We have a great governor,"Donalds said last month in his "Hannity" interview. "Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state. But now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country. And so that's going to be the mission at hand."

A GOP strategist who has long worked on Florida races said he thinks Donalds "has been really careful to be kumbaya with the governor and Casey. I think you’ve seen that from his messaging… He wants to build on the conservative record of success in Florida while also forging his own path."

However, the source added that Donalds will use Friday's campaign kickoff to "put a marker down to show that this is his race to win."

An internal poll conducted earlier this month for Donalds' campaign indicated the congressman edging Casey DeSantis by single digits in a hypothetical GOP primary showdown. However, the survey suggested that Donalds' lead surged to more than 20 points when respondents were informed that he is supported by Trump, whose sway over the GOP is stronger than ever.

Florida used to be the nation's top general election battleground state, but it has dramatically swung to the right in the past couple of election cycles. DeSantis won his 2022 re-election by nearly 20 points, and Trump carried the state last November by 13 points.

With Florida now clearly a red state, the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary will be considered the favorite in next year's general election.