Trump-Backed Donalds Leads Florida Governor Republican Primary

Politics19 sourcesAug 18, 2026

Leans leftFactual rigor 54/100

The Story

Florida voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to select nominees for governor, Senate, and congressional districts in the state's primaries.

In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Congressman Byron Donalds, backed by President Trump, holds a commanding lead in polls. Donalds, first elected in 2020, has raised $90 million. Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and activist James Fishback are leading challengers among 10 other Republicans seeking the nomination. Collins attempted to remove Fishback from the ballot, alleging he did not meet the state's seven-year minimum residency requirement, but a judge dismissed the case.

Florida's new congressional districts, pushed through by Governor Ron DeSantis, are designed to give Republicans an advantage in 24 of the state's 28 districts. The state has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994, and DeSantis is term-limited. In the newly redrawn 22nd District, a poll of 432 likely Republican primary voters, conducted by National Victory Strategies, shows Marine veteran Casey Askar with 16% support, a 3% lead over cryptocurrency trader Michael Carbonara, and a 6% lead over former police officer David Burke.

Belinda Keiser trails Askar by 8%. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points, placing the top three candidates within the margin of error. The primaries are testing President Trump's influence in his adopted state. Florida has shifted to the right since 2016, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats. The state's legislature, which skews heavily Republican, redrew the congressional map this year to favor right-wing candidates.

James Fishback, 31, has gained momentum among young men in the alt-right groyper movement online and has support from Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. In the 19th Congressional District, the race to replace Donalds has drawn a crowded field of 10 candidates, many with recent ties to the district or state. Catalina Lauf, who received a late endorsement from President Trump, moved to Florida recently and ran for Congress multiple times in Illinois. Rep.

What they agree on

Florida is holding primary elections on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, for governor, Senate, and congressional districts.
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is leading in polls for the Republican gubernatorial primary, with the endorsement of President Trump.
The state's congressional map has been redrawn by the Republican-led legislature, creating new districts that favor Republican candidates.
Several Republican primary races feature crowded fields and candidates with recent ties to their districts or the state.
The primaries are seen as a test of President Trump's influence in Florida, a state that has moved to the right since 2016.

Where they split

CBS News and Al Jazeera focus on the gubernatorial race, highlighting Byron Donalds' lead and President Trump's endorsement, while The Daily Signal and Roll Call devote more coverage to specific congressional district primaries, such as the 22nd and 19th districts.
Axios and NPR emphasize the unique and sometimes "wacky" cast of candidates in Florida's primaries, including those with recent ties to the state or controversial backgrounds, framing the elections as invoking the "Florida Man" meme.
Mother Jones and Roll Call provide extensive details on the ethics investigations and controversies surrounding Rep. Cory Mills, while other outlets mention his race more briefly as part of the broader primary landscape.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency highlights the "pain points for Jews" in Florida's primaries, focusing on candidates like James Fishback and the broader "civil war" within the GOP regarding pro-Israel figures versus Israel skeptics.