Byron Donalds Leads Florida Governor Race as Amendment 3 Faces Court Rewrite

Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has solidified his position as Florida’s gubernatorial frontrunner and emerged as the most visible champion of Amendment 3, a property tax relief measure on the November ballot. A James Madison Institute poll of 1,400 registered voters released Thursday showed Donalds leading the Republican primary with 49% support, far ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins at 18%. The amendment, which would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, drew 74% voter support in the same poll but now faces a court-ordered rewrite of its ballot language.

Donalds leads primary as affordability dominates race

Donalds holds a commanding lead in the Republican gubernatorial primary ahead of the August 18 vote. The James Madison Institute poll gave him 49% support compared to Collins’ 18%, former House Speaker Paul Renner’s 8%, and businessman James Fishback’s 4%. In hypothetical general election matchups against Democrat David Jolly, Donalds led 45% to 38%, while Collins led 44% to 39%. Donalds has also built a massive fundraising advantage, raising $95 million to Jolly’s $6 million. Affordability remains the top voter concern, with 23% citing inflation, 21% each naming housing costs and property taxes, and 20% pointing to property insurance.

Amendment 3 rewrite ordered after judge finds ballot language defective

A Leon County Circuit judge ruled that the ballot title and summary for Amendment 3 were “clearly and conclusively defective,” forcing Attorney General James Uthmeier to redraft the language. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the state will not appeal the ruling and called the new drafts “great.” The amendment requires 60% voter approval to pass. DeSantis, who originally proposed the measure, said the rewritten summary will be “very straightforward” and make clear that voters will “get tax relief” and “increased homestead exemptions.” The judge’s concerns centered on whether the original wording gave voters an honest description of the amendment’s contents.

Property tax amendment faces skepticism from some lawmakers

Uthmeier must submit the new version to the judge for review before it can appear on ballots. Former state Senator Jeff Brandes, who filed a lawsuit challenging the original wording, said the legal challenge was about “whether the government can sell a constitutional amendment with advocacy instead of explanation.” Brandes said he will examine the rewritten language closely to determine if it gives voters an honest account of what the amendment contains. A Florida judge and a coalition also warned that Amendment 3 could hurt renters by capping how much assessed values of rental properties can increase annually from 10% to 5%.

Donalds emerges as Amendment 3’s most visible Republican backer

Donalds has taken on the role of biggest Republican champion for the property tax measure, raising doubts about the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference’s fiscal projections for the amendment. He has argued that fiscally constrained counties need a permanent funding formula rather than a governor who can “pick and choose” which local projects to fund. His vocal support for Amendment 3 aligns with voter sentiment, as 74% of Florida voters in the James Madison poll backed the measure, including 44% saying they strongly support it.

Final Thoughts

Donalds’ commanding primary lead and high-profile backing of Amendment 3 position him as the frontrunner heading into November’s general election. The amendment’s court-ordered rewrite adds uncertainty to a measure that currently enjoys broad voter support, though DeSantis expressed confidence in the revised language.

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