Southwest Florida could soon be looking for a new congressman once Byron Donalds officially announces he’s running for governor.
President Trump has endorsed Donalds in a Truth Social post , saying, "Run Byron Run."
Talk of Florida’s governor's race was some of the main discussion Friday as coffee brewed at Seed and Bean Coffee shop in downtown Fort Myers.
At the center of discussion — who should lead the state as the next governor: Casey DeSantis or Byron Donalds?
Although DeSantis has said she is not considering a run, a new state poll Thursday showed her as a favorite candidate among Republican voters and soon after, President Trump endorsed Donalds on social media.
Voters like Ron Lubke, though, said it seemed to him President Trump’s support was starting to slip after some controversial decisions including the firing of thousands of government workers.
Lubke fears a Trump endorsement today may not hold the same value a year from now, and Susan Hatfield, while sipping her coffee, agreed.
“The luster of that endorsement wears off, and people become increasingly concerned. Does Casey DeSantis, by default, appear to be the Republican of choice, as sort of a moderate Republican?” Hatfield asked.
Republican political consultant Terry Miller said the advantage hands down goes to Donalds. He pointed out that Trump’s endorsement may delay some candidates from jumping in the race.
“When you're coming out with the president's endorsement, that will block a lot of the field out and clear the path from what could be a heated republican primary,” Miller explained.
On Friday, Donalds stopped short of formally announcing he'll run.
Donalds teased an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference “CPAC” in Maryland, saying, “And as for me … stay tuned.”
Leaving clouds in the coffee for many of those coffee drinkers.
