With Ron DeSantis‘ second term expiring after 2026, speculation over Florida’s next governor is beginning to grow. Below is a list of three names that are regularly mentioned by political pundits and insiders.
Ashley Moody
As Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody is known as one of the most frequent challengers of the Biden administration. Moody is known for her staunch support of law enforcement, especially regarding immigration. In addition to her lawsuits against the federal government, Moody also joined other state attorney generals to get major settlements against corporations such as Walgreens and CVS for the opioid crisis.
As a result of President-Elect Donald Trump’s selection of Sen. Marco Rubio for US Secretary of State, Moody”s name has been floated as a possible replacement. DeSantis chooses the interim Senator to replace Rubio, and he has enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship with Moody since they both entered office in 2018.
Wilton Simpson
Wilton Simpson, a Republican politician and businessman, serves as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Recently, he has advocated for selling certain state-owned lands, raising concerns that the state has acquired too much land for conservation purposes.
From 2020 to 2022, Simpson served as Senate President, during which he focused on enhancing the child welfare and foster care system. He increased funding for environmental and land conservation programs and supported Florida’s communities and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he was appointed to Governor DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force, where he worked to minimize budget disruptions during the economic downturn. On a personal level, Simpson donated 500,000 eggs to various non-profit organizations to assist struggling families affected by the pandemic.
Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds is a Republican who has served as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 19th congressional district since 2021. He gained attention in conservative circles for his staunch support of Trump, as well has his hard push to expand school choice options and parental rights in education policies.
Before Donalds was elected to US Congress, he was a Florida State House Representative from 2016 to 2020. During his time in the state legislature, he focused on economic development, education reform, and criminal justice.
As a congressman, Donalds serves on several committees, including the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Small Business. Throughout his political career, Donalds has been recognized for his unwavering commitment to fiscal policies that cut taxes and regulations. He continues to be an influential figure within the Republican Party, both in Florida and nationally.
