Senate President Ben Albritton is getting behind Byron Donalds‘ bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, as significant supporters of Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to coalesce around the front-runner to replace him.
Albritton, a fourth-generation Florida farmer from Wauchula, says that as Senate President, he can attest to “what principled, steadfast leadership can accomplish for Florida.”
“Byron Donalds is a proven conservative, a trusted problem-solver, and the right leader to build on our state’s success while keeping Florida safe and free,” Albritton said. “From standing up for our farmers and rural communities to fighting for taxpayers, Byron has consistently led with conviction. I’m proud to endorse Byron Donalds for Governor.”
The Donalds campaign noted that Albritton joins the Florida Farm Bureau in backing the third-term Congressman from Naples.
“Senator Albritton has done excellent work leading the conservative cause as President of Florida’s Senate, and I am glad to have him in my corner as we work to beat Florida Democrats this November,” Donalds said. “Ben’s experience and support will be critical as we fight to defend Florida’s agricultural community, deliver for rural Floridians, and make sure the Florida Dream is accessible for all.”
The permission structure for Republicans aligned with DeSantis seems to be wide open, given the increased willingness of people aligned with the current administration to back Donalds, even as the term-limited incumbent has remained officially neutral in the race.
Senate President-designate Jim Boyd and Sens. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach and Jay Trumbull of Panama City recently endorsed Donalds, who is now the choice of 12 Senators.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Jay Collins, who was appointed as Lieutenant Governor by DeSantis last year, is not drawing support from his own former colleagues, who would seem to have the best knowledge of the qualifications of the Governor’s mercurial second-in-command.
Given a just-published blockbuster report from POLITICO Florida detailing historically unprecedented tensions between Collins and senior members of DeSantis’ staff, it appears unlikely that any current Senators will buck the current trend and throw the Montana native and recent arrival to the state a lifeline.
Last week, Donalds secured backing from Florida’s entire Cabinet — Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. The first two are DeSantis appointees, picked to fill unexpired terms. Ingoglia and Simpson are both former Senators as well, with the CFO having served alongside Collins in the Legislature.
Other conservative leaders who have publicly backed Donalds include President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., more than 75% of House Republicans, a majority of Florida Sheriffs, slain activist Charlie Kirk and trillionaire Elon Musk. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is also on board.
Donalds dominates his opponents in both fundraising and public opinion polls. He has raised roughly $90 million this cycle and has majority support in the average survey of Republicans ahead of the Aug. 18 Primary.
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