Donalds Runs for Florida Governor from Naples
Naples Republican U.S. Representative Byron Donalds is a candidate for Florida governor, with his political roots in the city.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall
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Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican U.S. Representative, is a candidate for Florida governor. Naples served as the backdrop for his political awakening, and he first campaigned there.
Why it matters
If elected, Donalds would be the first Florida governor from Naples since the state entered the Union in 1845. Whether Naples would gain added clout in Tallahassee is unknown.
Since Florida's 1845 statehood, only one governor has come from Naples, while Rick Scott, elected in 2010, ranks 45th among Florida governors. Donalds lost a 2012 congressional bid to Trey Radel and later won a Florida House seat in 2016.
The players
Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds is a Naples Republican U.S. Representative who is now seeking the Florida governorship.
Rick Scott
Rick Scott was elected governor of Florida in 2010 and ranks 45th among the state's governors.
The details
Donalds married Erika in Naples in 2003, and the couple has three sons. He lost a 2012 congressional bid to Trey Radel before winning a Florida House seat four years later.
Timeline
2003: Donalds marries Erika in Naples.
2010: Rick Scott is elected Florida governor.
2012: Donalds loses a congressional bid to Trey Radel.
2016: Donalds wins a Florida House seat.
Political Context
Donalds' bid follows Rick Scott's 2010 election, the most recent Florida governor's race referenced in the extraction. The Naples connection marks a regional thread in an otherwise statewide contest.
Florida voters will choose the next governor, who oversees state government in Tallahassee and the state's 67 counties. Residents in Naples and across the state will feel the effects of the outcome through state policy.
The takeaway
Gubernatorial candidacies often draw on candidates' home regions and prior electoral experience, both of which shape how voters assess them.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in City Hall for context on Florida's local and state political leadership.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News-Press.
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