President Donald Trump chose to endorse Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds to serve as the next Governor of Florida, despite concerns from grassroots conservatives about his ability to contend for the policies that have enabled Republican ascendance in the state.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits, narrowly won his first race in 2018 but emerged as a national conservative leader during the lockdowns, overseeing substantial policy victories and higher Republican voter registrations.

Trump asserted that Donalds was “tested at the highest and most difficult levels” throughout his time in office. DeSantis nevertheless declined to endorse him in the 2026 election cycle, telling reporters that “we’ve achieved victories in Florida” and adding that “a guy like Byron, he just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the left over these last years.”

The Sentinel can report that grassroots conservatives in the southwestern Florida district that Donalds represents had difficulties with moving him to publicly oppose Amendment 4, the ballot initiative that would have enshrined abortion into the Florida state constitution. DeSantis meanwhile held public events on several occasions drawing voter attention to the measure.