Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a close ally of President-elect Trump and a rising GOP star in the House, is taking steps toward announcing a gubernatorial run in 2026. Sources say Donalds has approached Florida-based donors about running and has made a number of notable political hires, including Trump’s 2016 and 2024 presidential pollster Tony Fabrizio.  Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) selection of Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in the Senate has created an even wider opening for Donalds, who would have some of the highest name recognition in the GOP field. “A lot of people in the state are eager to have him get into the race,” said one source familiar. “The grassroots truly comes to Byron.”  Sources close to DeSantis say Moody was the candidate he was rallying behind to run to replace him before he decided to appoint her to the Senate.  “The biggest competition for Byron Donalds was Ashley Moody,” said one Florida Republican political consultant.  When asked about his future plans and hiring Fabrizio, Donalds told The Hill last week that he has “a lot of things planned.”  “When you get an opportunity to bring on prime people, you do it,” Donalds said. “You never know what the opportunities are because everything changes in politics.” “But if you get a chance to lock somebody in and have them on your team, you want to do that.”  Donalds has long been floated as a likely gubernatorial contender. However, before President-elect Trump’s victory in November, the field of likely contenders for the positions appeared to be more competitive.  Donalds, Moody, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and the state’s chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis (R) were among the potential contenders for the position. But with Moody heading to the Senate, Waltz to the administration and Patronis likely winning his special congressional race, Donalds’s advantages in the race seem to be growing. “Six months ago this seemed like it was going to be a very crowded race, now it seems like there are two, maybe three plausible candidates in the race and there is no question that based on everything we’re hearing in the state right now that Byron Donalds is the favorite to be the next governor,” said Florida-based GOP strategist Ford O’Connell.  However, the field could still expand.  Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said earlier this month that he has started to think about a run for governor, citing his “compelling vision” for Florida.  Gatez has a considerable amount of baggage, including his short-lived tenure as Trump’s attorney general nominee and a damning House Ethics Committee report that found “substantial evidence” that he violated House rules, state and federal laws, outlining allegations of prostitution, statutory rape and illicit drug use, among other accusations. The former congressman denied any wrongdoing.  And due to Gaetz and Donalds’s close ties and longstanding loyalty to Trump, it’s unclear how the incoming president would approach an endorsement in a primary.  “I don’t see Trump endorsing Gaetz or Donalds,” said the source familiar.  Others say Donalds, whose profile has skyrocketed as one of Trump’s most vocal Hill proponents on cable news, is more likely to receive the president’s backing. Donalds noticeably sat next to Trump in his VIP box at the Republican National Convention last year.  “Ultimately, whoever wins is going to have President Trump’s endorsement and all signs point to that being Byron,” O’Connell said.  Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson (R) is also said to be mulling a run while sitting on a considerable amount of campaign cash. According to NBC News, Simpson has $30 million in cash on hand.  While Simpson would stand to be a formidable opponent on the money front, Donalds’s efforts to bolster his profile in and out of Washington are seen as invaluable.  “Wilton Simpson has cash. Byron Donalds has cachet,” said one Florida Republican political consultant.  One potential wild card in the scenario is who the governor backs as his replacement. Donalds and DeSantis fell out after the congressman backed Trump in the Republican presidential primary.  “I don’t think Gov. DeSantis would purposefully do anything to give Byron any favors,” the source said.  –Mychael Schnell contributed