Florida first lady Casey DeSantis held a narrow lead over Representative Byron Donalds in a new University of North Florida (UNF) poll of the state's 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary.

Donalds' chief strategist, Ryan Smith, told Newsweek thatDonalds will win "no matter the field" in response to the poll, which also showed that Donalds holds a lead among respondents who voted in the 2024 primary.

Newsweek reached out to the DeSantis office for comment via email

Why It Matters

Florida's 2026 gubernatorial race is closely watched, as Governor Ron DeSantis cannot run again due to term limits. Donalds, who has announced his campaign, is viewed as an early frontrunner, having received support from President Donald Trump . But first lady DeSantis' potential candidacy remains a

See Full Page