# Byron Donalds Leads GOP Primary Polling Ahead of Florida Gubernatorial Vote
*U.S. Representative holds significant polling advantage over Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former Speaker Paul Renner as the August 18 election approaches.*

- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/byron-donalds-leads-gop-primary-polling-ahead-of-florida-gubernatorial-vote
- Sección: Politics
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-08-12T07:04:59.734Z
> Byron Donalds holds a substantial lead in GOP polling for Florida governor as campaigns intensify in Tampa Bay before the August 18 primary election against Democrat David Jolly.

## Las claves

- Byron Donalds maintains a substantial lead in public polling for the Florida GOP gubernatorial primary.
- The campaign activity occurred in Tampa Bay with an August 18 election date set for the vote.
- Donalds plans to attack David Jolly on culture war issues if he secures the nomination.

TAMPA, Fla. — With Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary just one week away, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds is maintaining a substantial lead in public polling ahead of the August 18 election. The high-stakes contest has drawn significant attention as candidates seek to secure the nomination to face Democratic nominee David Jolly. Public data indicates that Donalds is nearing 50% support among Republican voters, significantly outpacing his competitors in what is shaping up to be a critical statewide race.

### Campaign Trail Activity in Tampa Bay

On Tuesday, the campaign trail focused heavily on the Tampa Bay area. Donalds held a rally at a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) hall in Largo, where he addressed supporters and acknowledged local political dynamics. Signs for David Jolly were visible outside the venue before Donalds arrived, prompting comments from the representative regarding the presence of protesters. "We had a couple of protesters outside," Donalds stated during his appearance. "And this is how you know it's getting serious now." The event highlighted the intensifying competition as candidates make their final pushes for voter support.

### Competing Poll Numbers and Endorsements

While Donalds leads in polling, other Republican contenders are working to narrow the gap. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is currently positioned in the mid-teens of the poll numbers. Despite being appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis last year, Collins does not hold the governor's endorsement. During a meet-and-greet at Southern Technical College, Collins emphasized independent voter thinking over political machinery. "The lesson is all the endorsements, all the money don't matter," Collins said. "It turns out in Florida, we have Florida guys and Florida gals and they kind of think for themselves." Meanwhile, former State House Speaker Paul Renner remains in single digits but received a boost after DeSantis mentioned him during a recent press conference, as this newspaper reported in [Byron Donalds Leads GOP Polls Ahead of Florida Governor Primary](/noticia/byron-donalds-leads-gop-polls-ahead-of-florida-governor-primary).

### Strategic Focus on General Election Issues

If Donalds secures the nomination, he has begun outlining his strategy against Jolly. During Tuesday's campaign stops, Donaldis centered attacks on issues including transgender women in sports and gender surgeries for children. These positions contrast with Jolly’s stated goal to "bury the culture wars" in Florida, arguing that such topics distract from other Republican agenda items. With 84 days remaining until voters decide the next governor, the general election matchup will likely define the political landscape of the state.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/byron-donalds-leads-gop-primary-polling-ahead-of-florida-gubernatorial-vote