Florida News
Published Aug. 10, 2026, 11:41 a.m. ET | Updated Aug. 10, 2026
TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican front-runner for Florida governor, headlined a rally Saturday in Tampa flanked by top state and federal Republicans who praised his leadership on law and order, fiscal discipline and protecting Florida’s conservative gains under Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The event at the Firefighters Museum drew Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, U.S. Reps. Kat Cammack and Gus Bilirakis, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. Speakers repeatedly cast the November election as a choice between continuing Florida’s trajectory as a low-tax, pro-law enforcement state or risking a leftward shift.
Chronister opened by highlighting Donalds’ personal outreach after two Hillsborough deputies were shot in an ambush. He described Donalds as the first call after the attack on Deputies Colton Daniels and Sopomany Moon.
“Who was the person when two of our deputies […] were ambushed, shot in the face and in the neck? […] Byron Donalds,” Chronister said. “Who’s the person that’s going to protect the fundamental values that all of us in this room and beyond hold so dear to our heart? To protect our Florida way of life […] Who’s the only one that has the requisite experience to not only implement policy, but then to execute policy? Byron Donalds.”
Cammack, whose husband is a longtime Gainesville firefighter, framed the race in builder-versus-wrecker terms and said Donalds and his wife, Erika, would defend first responders while building on DeSantis’ record.
“When I look at the November election, I see two options, a man who is focused on building Florida the best that it possibly can be, and a man who’s a wrecker, who wants to tear down the incredibly hard and good work that Governor Ron DeSantis has done,” Cammack said. “Who’s a builder and who’s a wrecker […] I want people who are going to build the best future possible for my little girl, Augusta.”
Simpson pointed to Florida’s fiscal turnaround and agricultural land protections as evidence of conservative governance that Donalds would extend. He noted the state reduced debt from $25 billion to under $8 billion over 15 years while ranking as the lowest-taxed state and maintaining top-ranked public universities.
“You are the lowest taxed state in the union […] We have the best universities and colleges ten years in a row by world news report […] That proves we can do it and with conservative principles and Byron Donalds is the leader to make this happen,” Simpson said. He also credited programs that buy development rights to keep farmland in production permanently.
Moody, a fifth-generation Floridian and former attorney general, said she spoke with Donalds late Friday night about Florida policy even as the Senate remained in session. She emphasized law enforcement endorsements and the need to protect what has been built.
“He will do that for you. Byron Donalds, and don’t just take our word for it. He also has the endorsement of the Florida Police Chiefs,” Moody said. She thanked the injured deputies and their wives who attended and urged voters to support the full Republican ticket in early voting, which began Saturday.
Ingoglia cast Florida as the “gold standard” and “beacon of freedom” that other states now measure themselves against, warning that left-leaning policies from high-tax states must not take root.
“Florida is a place where bad ideas actually go to die […] If you want to come to the Sunshine State, do not New York our Florida,” Ingoglia said. “There is no better leaders at the top of this ticket than Senator Ashley Moody and soon to be Governor Byron Donalds […] Fight, fight, fight until you cannot fight anymore because Florida, she is worth fighting for.”
Donalds, who moved to Florida at 17 and graduated from Florida State University, introduced his wife, Erika, a sixth-generation Floridian whose great-grandfather died in the line of duty as Tampa’s fire chief in 1956. She spoke of transparency, education freedom and supporting first responders.
Donalds said Florida must maintain excellence after DeSantis’ tenure, comparing the state to the 1992 Chicago Bulls dynasty that needed sustained effort to keep winning. He outlined priorities including further insurance reform to cut rates another 20%, housing cost reductions for young families and first responders, commercial space leadership at Cape Canaveral, protection of agricultural lands, and workforce pathways beyond traditional college.
“We are the leader when it comes to school choice. We are the leader when it comes to educating kids and not indoctrinating them. We are the leader when it comes to law and order,” Donalds said. “As your next governor, that will remain the standard here in Florida.”
He closed by urging turnout in the Republican primary and the general election, arguing the Democratic nominees represent radical positions on crime, gender and culture that Floridians reject.
“In 10 days, we become one party,” Donalds said. “In 87 days, we are going to remind America and we are going to remind the Democrat socialists that you can play those games in New York City and Chicago, but they will not be tolerated here in the great state of Florida.”
Early voting is underway statewide. The Republican primary is Aug. 18.
Florida’s Voice is a Florida-focused digital news outlet covering state politics, public policy, and cultural issues across the Sunshine State. As a voice for Floridians, Florida’s Voice delivers timely reporting, commentary, and analysis on the stories shaping Florida’s civic and political landscape.
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Donalds rallies Tampa crowd with Moody, Cammack, Bilirakis, Simpson, Ingoglia and Chronister ahead of primary – Florida’s Voice
