Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been directly lobbying GOP megadonor Ken Griffin to help fund a challenger to Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in the state’s 2026 governor’s race. But those entreaties have been rebuffed, leaving the term-limited governor scrambling to find a viable financial backer for a new candidate.

Donalds has already raised more than $30 million and has President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Although Donalds and the Florida governor were once allies, the two fell out when Donalds broke with DeSantis and endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential primary. As a result, DeSantis has been searching for a candidate he can get behind to be his successor.

On at least two occasions, DeSantis directly spoke with Griffin or his top political adviser about a range of issues, including

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