U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds , a Republican congressman from Naples, is running for Florida governor.

Florida is one of 37 states that sets term limits for governors, so current Gov. Ron DeSantis will be ineligible to run again in the next Florida gubernatorial election in 2026 and will leave office in January 2027.

The 2026 election is more than a year away and so far, Donalds is the only person to announce plans to run for governor.

Another name floating out there is another DeSantis, this time it's Casey DeSantis, wife of current governor Ron DeSantis.

"You guys can read into that what you want," Gov. Ron DeSantis said moments later, adding "I've had people coming up to me for years, begging to get her into the fray."

The governor has spoken highly of his wife’s potential candidacy over the last few weeks, but to date, she has not officially declared she will be running.

Here are 10 things to know about Byron Donalds.

Who is U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds?

Bryon Lowell Donalds, 46, is a Florida House Republican from Naples.

Donalds was born in Brooklyn, the middle of three children raised by a single mother .

He is a graduate of Florida State University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing, graduating in 2002.

He has worked at TIB Bank, CMG Life Services, and Moran Wealth in Naples.

When did Byron Donalds get into politics?

Donalds ran for the U.S. House of Representatives for Florida's 19th congressional district in 2012, finishing fifth in a field of six candidates.

In 2016, he ran for the Florida House of Representatives and won, replacing retiring incumbent Francis Rooney to represent Hendry County and east Collier County in Tallahassee.

While serving in the Florida House, Donalds said he primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and ensuring each child has access to a world-class education.

In 2020, Donalds was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and was re-elected in 2022 .

His very first vote as a U.S. congressman was to void the U.S. 2020 presidential election results.

Byron Donalds announces on Fox News' 'Hannity' he will run for Florida governor

"We have a great governor. Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state," Donalds said on Fox News' "Hannity" Feb. 25.

"But now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country. And so that's going to be the mission at hand. And I'm excited to announce my candidacy with you tonight."

"Now is the time to ... take the mantle and lead our state into the future," he said.

President Trump told Byron Donalds to 'RUN, BYRON, RUN!'

In a post on Truth Social, T rump encouraged Donalds to run for Florida governor.

"I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER! Byron has a great wife, Erika, and three beautiful sons. They are very proud of him! As Governor, Byron would have a BIG Voice, and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda. He will fight tirelessly to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military, Protect our Vets, Restore our Economic Power, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. "Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!"

Byron Donalds GOP rising star and 'Black MAGA patriot'

Donalds’ rough background and hard-core conservatism have made him a GOP rising star . Donalds has described himself as a " Black MAGA patriot, " and has long been "President Trump’s strongest supporter in Congress."

If elected governor, he would be Florida's first Black governor.

Donalds has supported and promoted Trump, frequently appearing with him at public events, including the Daytona 500 in February.

Critic: Byron Donalds 'dangerous political opportunist' with little political experience

In a statement released after Donalds' announcement , Florida Democratic Party Nikki Fried called him a "dangerous political opportunist who should be nowhere near the governor’s mansion.

“ One of the least popular people in Tallahassee politics, Byron is best known for skipping votes, defending insurrectionists, and promoting a revisionist version of Black history that defends Jim Crow," Fried said.

"He has little political experience and no executive experience, and is completely unqualified to run the state of Florida."

Byron Donalds' first vote as congressman was to void US election results

For his first-ever vote as a U.S. congressman, Donalds joined 146 other Republicans who voted on Jan. 6, 2021, to void the U.S. election results based on objections to rule changes in two states Donalds said violated the Constitution.

Donalds has repeatedly claimed Joe Biden was not the legitimate president of the United States.

How much is Byron Donalds worth?

Most members of Congress currently earn an annual salary of $174,000 .

Lawmakers are required to submit personal financial disclosure forms by May 15 each year, showing the source and amount of household income for the previous year.

Two calculations, one using the lowest, the other the highest amount in each asset range from Byron Donalds' 2023 financial disclosure report and an amendment to add two retirement accounts and their underlying assets, plus earned income, minus credit card liabilities, put his estimated net worth somewhere between just over $630,000 and $2.6 million.

Is Byron Donalds married?

Yes. Donalds lives in Naples with his wife, Erika, and their three sons: Damon, Darin, and Mason.

He was previously married to Bisa Hall, who has been a critic of Donalds as his political prominence has grown, according to several online articles.

Does Byron Donalds have arrest record?

When Donalds was 18, after a party at his apartment, he was arrested for possession of marijuana. The 1997 marijuana charge was dismissed as part of a pre-trial diversion program.

Two years later, a female acquaintance convinced him he could make a thousand dollars by depositing a bad check. “I was desperate, I was out of money, I didn’t have a job, my rent was overdue."

Donalds has since made restitution to the bank for about seven times the original amount but the state pressed bribery charges in 2000. The charges were later expunged. .

Donalds has been open about his arrests and has said they are a tale of sin and atonement that make him uniquely qualified to serve others.

Will Ron DeSantis run for governor of Florida again?

Term limits prevent Ron DeSantis from running for governor again in 2026 because, the state constitution says, Florida governors cannot serve for more than six years in two consecutive terms.

DeSantis was first elected in 2018 and began his term in office on Jan. 8, 2019. He was re-elected by a landslide in 2022.

However, the Florida Constitution says: "No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term."

So DeSantis could run again for governor after someone else has served a term after he leaves office in January 2027.