Paul Renner, a former Florida House Speaker, faces a steep uphill battle in the August 18 Republican primary against Donalds, with polls showing Donalds leading by a large margin and Renner’s support at single‑digit percentages. Renner previously won a 2014 primary by two votes, later became Speaker and championed school‑choice expansion, tort reform and HB 3’s online‑safety provisions, and currently serves on the State University System board. The AIF Center for Political Strategy poll conducted in early June placed Donalds at 54 % and Renner at 2 %, while a January survey by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates showed Renner at 4 % and dropping to 1 % when voters were told of Donald Trump’s endorsement of Donalds. Campaign finance reports indicate Renner raised roughly $105,000 in April and May, compared with Donalds’s $81 million. Renner dismissed the AIF poll as “junk” and argued that internal numbers and a straw poll reflect genuine support, but fundraising and poll gaps suggest a disadvantaged position. Former Speaker Richard Corcoran, who opposed then‑Governor Ron DeSantis in 2018 before later endorsing him and securing a $1.3 million‑a‑year position at New College of Florida, is being urged to leverage his relationship with DeSantis to aid Renner. Corcoran’s experience demonstrates that an endorsement from a former rival can lead to state appointments and institutional influence; Renner could receive commitments that a Donalds administration defend HB 3 and preserve school‑choice policies, and secure a senior state role matching his record. The outcome of Renner’s primary bid will depend on whether he can convert his limited endorsement into tangible political capital before the August 18 primary, as the window for such influence is narrowing.