The 2026 Florida gubernatorial race has taken a dramatic turn with U.S. Rep. byron donalds‘ political committee, Friends of Byron Donalds, initiating a $20 million statewide television and digital advertising blitz. This substantial investment marks the largest media campaign in the race, signaling Donalds’ strong position ahead of the August 18 primary.
Donalds, seeking the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, has rolled out two new television ads titled “Jack Up” and “Shot.” These ads are airing across all major Florida media markets on cable, broadcast television, and digital streaming platforms, underscoring his commitment to reaching a broad audience.
Donalds’ Campaign Focus: Affordability and Infrastructure
The ad titled “Shot” highlights Florida’s cost-of-living and affordability crisis, featuring Donalds’ personal story of being raised by a single mother in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Florida nearly 30 years ago to build a business career. This narrative aims to connect with voters on a personal level, emphasizing his understanding of economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the companion ad, “Jack Up,” focuses on ratepayer protections and the state’s electric grid infrastructure. Donalds aligns himself with President Donald Trump and DeSantis on policies involving artificial intelligence data centers, vowing to prevent hyperscale tech operations from triggering ratepayer hikes or harming Florida’s environment.
Financial and Organizational Strength
Ryan Smith, chairman of the Friends of Byron Donalds PAC, stated, “Byron Donalds is laser-focused on making Florida more affordable for our families, seniors, and young people. These ads tell the story of who Byron is and what he’ll fight for as governor: lower costs, consumer protections, and keeping Florida the state where everyone can achieve their dreams.”
The eight-figure ad blitz underscores Donalds’ financial and organizational positioning ahead of the primary. His political committee has reported breaking previous state fundraising records while funding a grassroots ground operation that has logged more than 175,000 door knocks across the state.
The Trump Factor and Endorsements
Donalds’ campaign is bolstered by a series of high-profile endorsements, including those from Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Elon Musk, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and a majority of Florida’s county sheriffs. These endorsements have significantly bolstered his frontrunner status in the race.
The Republican Party of Florida canceled the June gubernatorial debate after determining that only Donalds met the minimum 10% polling threshold to qualify for the stage. This decision has sparked discussions about the fairness of the primary process, with some critics arguing that it favors Donalds.
In a January Fabrizio, Lee & Associates survey, Donalds led investment CEO James Fishback 47% to 5% without the endorsement mentioned—and 76% to 6% once voters were informed Trump had already picked his man. This polling data suggests that Donalds’ campaign is already in a dominant position, with many voters seeing the race as a formality.
Donalds is running a campaign built around the Trump brand in the most pro-Trump state in the country—a state the president won by 13 points in 2026. His field operation has knocked on more than 150,000 doors across the state, and his $20 million ad campaign launching next week will run through the primary. The campaign is already running spots attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom instead of his Republican opponents, indicating that Donalds is already looking ahead to the general election.
