Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) will not say if he's running for governor of the Sunshine State in 2026, but he thinks he has the support for it.
"I think a lot of people in Florida would like that," Donalds told reporters Tuesday, adding that for now he is focused on House Republicans doing their job with the appropriations process.
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Donalds commented on a gubernatorial run as reports circulate that fellow Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is set on entering the 2026 race. Gaetz, when asked about the reports he will run for the governor's mansion in 2026, said he has "no goals beyond 2024.
"I am not — I am not interested in any of that," Gaetz said. "Right now, my sole focus is on defeating the [continuing resolution]. And when it comes to politics, I have no goals beyond 2024, and I'm not going to talk about political races while in the Capitol."
A report from NBC News on Monday suggested Gaetz is set on running for governor in three years. Gaetz is a fierce ally of former President Donald Trump in the House and a former adviser to Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
When asked if he would support Gaetz for governor in 2026, Donalds said, "No."
The 2026 Florida gubernatorial primary is expected to be a fierce fight in the GOP primary, as popular incumbent DeSantis is term-limited.
The two Florida congressmen are on opposite sides of a fight on government funding.
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Donalds and Gaetz got into a back-and-forth on X, formerly known as Twitter, over the continuing resolution the House Freedom and Main Street caucuses negotiated over the weekend. Gaetz, expressing disapproval over the continuing resolution, said on Monday that it funds "the government agencies I loathe." On Tuesday, Gaetz reiterated that he thinks that Donalds is "terribly misguided."
"I'm a big fan of Byron Donalds. He's my friend, and I think he's terribly misguided. I think he's one of the most effective members we have in this conference," Gaetz said. "And frankly, I just think we need to get our best players back on side so we can run winning plays again."