Key Takeaways

  • Airbnb has reportedly contributed $1 million to Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds
  • In addition to raising $74 million for his campaign, Donalds also has received an endorsement from President Donald Trump
  • The Florida gubernatorial primary is August 18

Airbnb has reportedly written a $1 million check to support Byron Donalds, a Republican candidate in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race.

According to local outlet “WGCU News,” Donalds — who has secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement and collected more than $74 million for his campaign — is facing little serious competition in the Republican primary and is widely viewed as the favorite to become Florida’s next governor.

Byron Donalds
Florida candidate Byron Donalds (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Airbnb funneled the money through a political committee called “The People Versus The Powerful,” chaired by Andy Gonzalez, Airbnb’s Public Policy Lead for the Southeast and Gulf regions, per the outlet.

On May 19, Airbnb gave $1.5 million to the committee. That same day, the committee transferred $1 million to Friends of Byron Donalds PAC, the outlet reported.

The booking giant’s contribution marks a direct play by the platform to align itself with a candidate who has taken a pro-short-term rental stance as local governments across the region push to tighten rules on vacation rentals.

Airbnb’s political bet on Florida’s short-term rental landscape

The Suncoast has become one of the sharpest pressure points in Florida’s ongoing clash between vacation rental growth and neighborhood pushback.

Airbnb has increasingly moved beyond platform advocacy into direct campaign finance in states where the regulatory environment for hosts remains unsettled.

Related: Chicago sues Airbnb over illegal rentals after host racks up nearly 200 citations

Donalds is widely considered the Republican primary front-runner, which makes Airbnb’s early financial commitment a calculated move to be on the right side of the state’s next executive.

Florida has long been a critical market for the platform, and the Suncoast — spanning Sarasota, Manatee, and surrounding counties — remains one of the most contested STR battlegrounds in the state.

Donalds was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, per his campaign site.

He attended Florida State University and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and marketing. While serving in the Florida House of Representatives, Byron made his mark as a champion for school choice and protecting parental rights in education.

The Florida gubernatorial primary is set for August 18.

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