JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two influential Republican Party donors—billionaires Richard Uihlein and Jeff Yass have backed Rep. Byron Donalds as the 2026 Florida governor’s race begins to take shape.
According to the latest filings from Friends of Byron Donalds PAC, Uihlein contributed $1 million, while Yass gave $5 million to support Donalds, who officially declared his candidacy in February following President Trump’s endorsement. In all, the PAC raised more than $11 million through March 31. Donalds’ campaign, which is subject to lower contribution limits, raised more than $500,000 in the same timeframe.
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The donations come as Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, continues to tease a possible run. This early financial backing suggests that key players in the GOP donor class may have already made up their minds.
Uihlein and his wife donated roughly $2 million to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC during the 2018 and 2022 campaigns. Yass gave more than $2.5 million to the same committee.
The Uihleins continued supporting DeSantis in the early stages of his presidential run, giving $3 million to his Never Back Down, Inc. committee. However, once DeSantis exited the primary, Richard Uihlein shifted his support, giving $5 million to Make America Great Again, Inc., in May 2024, according to federal election data.
While Casey DeSantis remains a high-profile name with strong ties to the state’s GOP machinery, the early move by these donors may preempt her path, adding to the momentum that Donalds has been building.
