Florida sees possible five-way race for governor open up as Gaetz rumors swirl

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An ever-growing pack of possible candidates looking to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) as he wraps up his final term in office promises to bring Floridians a riveting campaign season in the coming months. 

So far, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is the only contender to announce a gubernatorial campaign in the Sunshine State ahead of the 2026 election. But although he’s already clinched a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump, multiple other rumored candidates, from DeSantis’s wife to former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, could throw a wrench in Donalds’s gubernatorial ambitions. 

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