Byron Donalds is the Frontrunner for Florida Governor

Donalds still leads Florida GOP governor’s race

but rivals press him on lawsuit, debates and polling

Byron Donalds remains the Republican frontrunner for Florida governor, but his rivals are trying to make the final stretch of the primary far less comfortable.

The Trump-endorsed congressman is now pushing back against a new civil assault lawsuit filed in Collier County by Kelly Mason, who alleges Donalds threatened and intimidated her during a 2022 confrontation inside Seed to Table, a Naples grocery store.

The complaint claims the confrontation stemmed from litigation involving Donalds’ wife, Erika Donalds, and that Donalds threatened to “crush” or “finish” Mason. Donalds’ campaign dismissed the lawsuit as political.

“This is a baseless, politically motivated attack and shameful publicity stunt designed to damage Byron Donalds in the 2026 election,” said Gates McGavick, Donalds’ campaign communications director. “This individual has a long history of unsuccessful litigation against the Donalds family. Floridians deserve better news coverage than lazy reprints of a tabloid.”

The lawsuit comes as Donalds’ opponents are also trying to force him onto a debate stage. Former House Speaker Paul Renner is calling for another Republican primary debate, preferably on Fox News or another national outlet, after Donalds skipped a recent podcast debate featuring Renner, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback. Axios reported Donalds was still mentioned dozens of times during that debate, even though he did not participate.

“The voters want debates, they deserve debates,” Renner said. “He has to answer the why question: Why should he be the governor and not the other candidates in this race?”

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There is no need for Donalds to debate:
Rep. BYRON DONALDS is out front with 37.5 percent, while Collins has 20.2 percent. Investor JAMES FISHBACK is in third with 9.6 percent. Former state House Speaker PAUL RENNER was at 2.1 percent