Trump heads to Daytona Beach for rally

President Donald Trump arrives in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday to continue his midterm campaign tour. The visit marks a key stop in his effort to support Republican candidates in the state.

Trump plans to campaign for Rep. Byron Donalds, who is the Republican nominee for governor. Donalds is challenging Democrat David Jolly. Jolly was previously a Republican congressman before switching parties. Polls show Donalds as the favorite, though the race remains competitive.

This contest contrasts with the 2022 election. Governor Ron DeSantis won reelection in that cycle by nearly 20 percentage points. The current margin is much tighter.

The president is also expected to stump for congressional Republicans. That group includes Sen. Ashley Moody. Moody is running in a special election to retain her seat. Her opponent is state Rep. Angie Nixon. DeSantis appointed Moody to the Senate in 2025 after Marco Rubio moved to the State Department.

The Daytona Beach area includes the district for Rep. Randy Fine. Fine is a freshman member of the House. He took office in April 2025 after a special election. He replaced Mike Waltz, who is now the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Florida voluntarily redrew its congressional map before the midterms. Republicans currently hold 20 of the 28 House seats in the state. The new map may allow the party to increase that total.