Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., appears to be getting more vocal about running for Florida governor in 2026 in the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Donalds, a leading friend, ally and supporter of President-elect Trump in the House of Representatives, in recent days has been telling potential donors and Florida political players that he intends to run for governor, Republican sources confirm to Fox News.

Some of those conversations occurred last weekend in Orlando at the Florida GOP’s annual meeting.

“He’s serious,” a source with knowledge told Fox News.

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Another signal came a week ago when Donalds hired prominent Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio’s research firm. Fabrizio was a top pollster in Trump’s 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.

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The conservative former state lawmaker who has represented parts of southwest Florida’s 19th District in Congress for four years has been eyeing a potential gubernatorial bid for months.

“I’ve thought about it. I don’t really rule anything out,” Donalds said in a Fox News Digital interview last spring when asked about a possible run for governor.

Donalds, who was a top surrogate on the campaign trail last year for Trump, was interviewed a few days after Trump, at a closed-door fundraiser in New York City, suggested that if Donalds ran for Florida governor in 2026, he’d have “many friends in the race.”

“It’s really cool that people back home in Florida consider me to be able to be the state’s next governor. It’s really an honor. It’s honestly surreal thinking about it because I’m 45 and my journey through politics has been a really fruitful one,” Donalds said at the time. “It’s really humbling and an honor, but I just focus on doing the job I have.”

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Another prominent Florida Republican who’s believed to be considering a run is state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, the former president of the state Senate.

And former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who was Trump’s first choice for attorney general in his second administration before dropping out amid controversy, has also said he’s thinking of running.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was also thought to be mulling a run to succeed DeSantis, her ally in Tallahassee, but the governor on Thursday named Moody to succeed Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, who is likely to be one of the president-elect’s first Cabinet picks to be confirmed by the Senate.

And Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, who was also believed to be interested in a potential gubernatorial campaign, is considered the front-runner in this month’s special congressional election to fill Gaetz’s seat.

“With Moody going to the Senate, should he choose to run for governor, Donalds would be the clear favorite over Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who is the Tallahassee establishment’s choice,” Fabrizio said. “We’ll see if the Tallahassee establishment smartens up after betting and losing badly in 2010 against [former two-term governor and current Sen.] Rick Scott and in 2018 against Ron DeSantis.”

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With Florida, which was once a top general election battleground state, now firmly red, the slowly emerging gubernatorial battle may be determined by whom Trump, the GOP’s kingmaker in his adopted home state of Florida and across the country, may eventually back.

But not to be discounted is any possible endorsement by DeSantis in the race to succeed the governor.

Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) Storm Center | By Leslie Hudson

If you thought last week was cold, hold onto your hot lattes and be ready to bundle up as (another) winter storm is forecast to plunge arctic air deep into the Deep South by early next week.

January has already been colder than average in most states east of the Rocky Mountains for the first time in two years and now, more frigid air is coming. This next winter storm will bring rain and possibly some brutally cold air by the early next week.

The polar vortex is an enormous ring of powerful winds spinning above the North Pole. It normally circles the Arctic and it typically stays contained by a strong jet stream, but when this ring of frigid arctic air becomes unstable as the jet stream weakens, which allows the cold arctic air to spill southward into the lower 48.

The first polar vortex of 2025 arrived in Florida on January 6th. During that week the vortex fueled a winter storm that dumped snow and ice across several southeastern states and brought below-freezing temperatures to much of north and central Florida. It brought crisp and unseasonably chilly temps to the rest of Florida as well.

The first polar vortex swept across the country bringing dangerous snow, ice, and wind to millions of Americans. It also disrupted flights, closed schools, and impacted several major U.S. cities.

According to National Weather Service forecasters, “the southern lobe of the Polar Vortex” will generate a much more significant, frigid cold Arctic Blast that will graze across Canada and the United States through the second half of January. The disturbance in the Polar Vortex aloft will establish extreme cold conditions. Temperatures are forecast to plunge into a deep freeze, pushing 30-40 degrees below normal for tens of millions of people across North America. Brutally cold days and locally historic low temperatures are in the forecast for many parts of the eastern U.S. and possibly parts of Florida.

It’s important to remember that the forecast and the modeling data are still being fine-tuned. So make sure you check your local forecast often as we head into the weekend.

With the evolution of this system still several days away, it’s still too early to say how cold it will get in the Sunshine state. But for now, here is what you can expect:

Central Florida:

Moisture will begin to increase across Central and South Florida ahead of the next approaching front this weekend. The presence of abundant cloud cover and rain will keep overnight temperatures more mild, with lows in the 50s and 60s throughout Central Florida.

North Florida:

North Florida can expect slightly warmer temperatures for the rest of this week before the arctic blast hits the area early next week. Warmer weather with some rain is expected across North Florida this weekend, followed by the possibility of widespread freezes Jan. 21-22

Temperatures will rise to the upper 60’s by Friday. Lows will remain cold, hovering between the upper-30s to mid-40s before jumping up to the mid-50s on Friday. On Sunday, the coldest temperatures of the season will plunge cold arctic air into the northern parts of Florida and drop temperatures into the mid to upper 20’s. Coastal communities will be closer to 30 degrees.

South Florida:

Starting Saturday, southerly winds take hold and temperatures become warmer. Plan for highs around 80 degrees. This cold front should start to approach South Florida on Sunday. Until then, expect a mild forecast with daytime highs in the middle 60s to lower 70s through South Florida and the Keys.

Florida authorities are searching for a man seen on camera robbing an elderly woman in an attack outside an Orlando convenience store on Wednesday.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the violent robbery took place outside a store on Curry Ford Road near the intersection of S. Goldenrod Road on Wednesday morning.

In surveillance footage shared by the sheriff’s office, the 83-year-old, who was not named, can be seen walking out of the store and attempting to get into her car with lottery winnings in her hand. 

FOX 35 Orlando reported that the woman won $200.

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At the same time, the suspect, believed to be Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury, starts walking toward the woman from the sidewalk area behind her. He approaches her and tries to swipe the winnings out of her hand, then some sort of verbal altercation takes place. 

Another man walks out of the store and appears to tell Fleury to leave.

Fleury then goes after the woman and starts trying to take the money while the other man tries to pull him off of the victim. Fleury drags the woman in the parking lot as she holds onto her winnings, and ultimately steals the money from her.

Another man attempted to come to the aid of the woman during the robbery, but was unable to stop Fleury from stealing her money and running off. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)

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The other man appears to try and get the money back for the woman, but Fleury shoves him and takes off running. As of Wednesday evening, he has not been located.

A store employee told FOX 35 that Fleury often hangs out near the front of the building and has caused problems in the past.

The suspect is believed to be Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury and he is wanted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for robbery, sudden snatching and battery on a person 65 or older. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)

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The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for Fleury on charges of robbery, sudden snatching and battery on a person 65 or older.

Information on his whereabouts can be called in to Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.