U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds holds a wide lead in the Republican primary for Florida governor, according to initial findings from a statewide poll released by the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) Center for Political Strategy.
The survey, conducted June 3-7, found Donalds with support from 54% of likely Republican voters in a four-person primary field. James Fishback followed at 8%, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins received 5%, and former House Speaker Paul Renner drew 2%. Thirty-one percent of Republican voters remained undecided.
The poll was conducted as part of AIF’s second-quarter 2026 statewide general election survey, which included 800 likely Florida general election voters and a subset of 386 likely Republican voters. Interviews were conducted by landline, cellphone and text-to-web responses, and were balanced to reflect a likely 2026 general election turnout across several demographic and political categories. The overall poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
AIF, which has endorsed Donalds in the governor’s race, said the congressman showed broad support across several regions of the state. According to the group, Donalds led with 71% support in the Fort Myers media market, 69% in West Palm Beach, 54% in Orlando, 51% in Tampa and 53% in the Panhandle.
The survey also showed Donalds with comparable support among white and Hispanic Republican voters, at 55% and 54%, respectively. Among seniors, a key voting bloc in Republican primaries, Donalds received 60% support.
“Byron Donalds is dominating the Republican primary race for Florida Governor,” said Jeremy Sheftel, AIF Vice President of Political Operations. “With a commanding $81-million-dollar war chest, an extensive campaign and field apparatus, and a complete and total endorsement from President Donald J. Trump, Donalds is in an extremely advantageous position to be Florida’s Republican nominee for Governor with early voting beginning in two short months.”
Donalds is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited.
