TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin has contributed $10 million to a political committee supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, delivering the largest reported donation of Florida’s 2026 governor’s race as the Aug. 18 primary approaches.
The contribution went to Friends of Byron Donalds PAC, the state political committee supporting the Naples congressman’s campaign for governor. It was not a direct contribution to Donalds’ candidate account.
Griffin’s donation accounted for most of the nearly $11 million the committee raised during the reporting period ending July 17, according to campaign-finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections.
Combined with Donalds’ candidate account, the political operation has now raised more than $103 million during the election cycle and retained approximately $70 million to spend as of July 17, according to an analysis of the filings by Florida Politics.
“Byron Donalds cares deeply about the families and communities that make Florida the best state in the nation, and I’m proud to support him as our next governor,” Griffin said in a statement reported by the Tampa Bay Times and other news organizations.
Florida Political Committees Can Accept Unlimited Contributions
Florida limits direct contributions to candidates for statewide office to $3,000 per election. However, the Florida Division of Elections says there is no limit on how much an individual or business may contribute to a state political committee such as Friends of Byron Donalds PAC.
That distinction allows major donors to provide substantially more money through political committees than they could contribute directly to a candidate’s campaign account.
State records identify Friends of Byron Donalds PAC as an active political committee registered in February 2025.
The Griffin contribution is the largest single donation reported in the governor’s race and provides Donalds’ political operation with additional resources for television advertising, digital outreach, mail and voter mobilization during the closing weeks of the primary.
Donalds’ Financial Advantage Continues to Grow
Donalds’ Republican opponents remain far behind financially.
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins entered the final weeks of the reporting period with approximately $900,000 available between his campaign and affiliated political committee. Former House Speaker Paul Renner had approximately $1.5 million, while businessman James Fishback had less than $200,000 available across his accounts.
The widening financial gap comes as Collins, Renner and Fishback continue pressing Donalds to participate in a Republican primary debate.
Donalds has rejected those debate demands, arguing that his opponents have not demonstrated enough electoral support to warrant a forum.
A recent Cygnal poll found Donalds leading the Republican field with 43% support. Fishback received 12%, Collins received 11% and Renner received 2%, while 31% remained undecided.
Cygnal surveyed 500 likely Republican primary voters July 12–13. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.
Griffin’s Support Carries Broader Political Significance
Griffin was previously a major financial supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis and contributed heavily to efforts opposing Florida’s unsuccessful 2024 recreational-marijuana amendment.
He also contributed $2.5 million this year to a political committee supporting Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody.
DeSantis has not endorsed a candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Griffin’s decision to support Donalds nevertheless gives the congressman the backing of one of Florida’s most influential Republican donors and another prominent financial supporter previously aligned with the outgoing governor.
Donalds already has the endorsement of President Donald Trump and numerous Republican elected officials, law enforcement leaders and business organizations.
His campaign has also benefited from outside spending. A political committee backed by artificial-intelligence investors spent at least $500,000 earlier this year on television advertisements promoting Donalds.
General-Election Contest Remains Closer
Donalds’ primary polling and financial advantage have not produced an equally large lead in potential general-election matchups.
A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab survey conducted July 8–17 found Donalds leading Democratic candidate David Jolly 46% to 41%. Another 6% remained undecided.
The survey included 848 likely Florida midterm voters and had an overall margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Jolly raised approximately $1.45 million between his candidate account and Florida 2026 political committee during the week ending July 17. He had approximately $3.5 million available, leaving him substantially behind Donalds financially.
Why It Matters
Griffin’s $10 million contribution provides Donalds with another significant advantage as Florida’s Republican primary enters its final weeks.
It also signals that influential donors previously associated with DeSantis are increasingly willing to support Donalds even without an endorsement from the term-limited governor.
Money alone does not determine election outcomes, particularly when a substantial share of voters remains undecided. But Donalds’ expanding resources give his campaign and supporting committee the ability to communicate statewide at a level his Republican opponents currently cannot match.
The primary election is Aug. 18. Florida’s mandatory statewide early-voting period runs from Aug. 8 through Aug. 15.
Related Coverage
- Byron Donalds Rejects GOP Primary Debate Calls as Florida Governor’s Race Intensifies
- New Poll Shows Byron Donalds Maintaining Commanding Lead
- AI-Backed PAC Spent $500,000 Boosting Byron Donalds
- Florida Elections 2026: Candidates, Races and Election News
Sources
- Friends of Byron Donalds PAC — Official websiteFlorida Division of Elections
- Friends of Byron Donalds PAC committee record
- Florida Division of Elections — Friends of Byron Donalds PAC
- Florida Division of Elections — Campaign Finance Information
- Florida Division of Elections — Political Committee FAQ
