That leaves Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican, as the last Florida Cabinet official still with potential to get in the governor’s race. He is a former Senate President who received Trump’s endorsement for his Agriculture Commissioner campaign in 2022.

In Congress, he’s been part of the ultraconservative Tea Party caucus. Highly thought of by Republican colleagues, he won a few votes in early 2023 to become speaker of the Florida House. Following Trump’s lead, Donalds in January introduced a bill to end taxes on tips.

Donalds, a rising star in the party who was once a contender for House speaker, is on the cusp of taking the big jump in his political career as a front-running contender to govern Trump’s adopted home state.