Trump Endorses Jon Maples in Florida State House Race

Trump backs businessman Jon Maples for Florida's 87th State House District, praising his record and pointing to support from local Palm Beach County Republicans.

First Published: August 3, 2026, 3:23 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump endorsed Jon Maples, a businessman and civic leader seeking Florida’s 87th State House District seat, in a post published on Truth Social.

The endorsement leaned on local backing, with Trump citing support from state Representative Meg Weinberger and other Palm Beach County allies. Trump framed Maples as an ally on taxes, regulation, immigration and the Second Amendment.

“Jon Maples has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump said in the post.

The move extends Trump’s practice of steering political capital into down-ballot state legislative races, where a single endorsement can reshape a low-turnout primary and cement his influence over a state party.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Jon Maples, who is running to represent the fantastic people of Florida’s 87th State House District! Jon is a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends, including by Great State Representative “MAGA” Meg Weinberger. As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Advance Election Integrity, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Jon Maples has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” on August 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 28th message released today, and the last post was 19 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 82 of his 461 posts over the last 30 days classified as Elections posts.

The endorsement lists a policy agenda that mirrors Trump’s national platform. Maples would push to grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, promote domestic manufacturing, curb migrant crime, advance election integrity and defend gun rights, according to the post. The message ties a state legislative campaign to the priorities Trump has pressed at the federal level.

Winners and losers hinge on the primary math. A Trump endorsement rewards Maples with name recognition and fundraising momentum, while rival candidates lose the single most valuable asset in a Republican primary. Palm Beach County, home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, gives the endorsement added local weight.

This is not the first time Trump has intervened in a Florida legislative contest. He has repeatedly weighed in on state-level races across the country, and his endorsements have carried outsized influence in Republican primaries since 2016. State House districts like Florida’s 87th typically draw far fewer voters than congressional or statewide contests, which magnifies the effect of a high-profile endorsement.

For the average reader outside the district, the endorsement signals how Trump continues to shape state legislatures that write laws on taxes, guns and elections. Those state bodies decide policies that touch daily life, from local tax rates to voting procedures.

The next decision rests with voters in Florida’s 87th State House District, who will settle the contest at the ballot box. A specific date for the primary or general election was not stated in the post, and a date has not been announced here.

Endorsing down-ballot candidates has long been a lever for national figures seeking to build loyal state benches, as happened before. Ronald Reagan campaigned for state and local Republicans through the 1980s to broaden his coalition. Barack Obama and his allies later poured resources into state legislative races after Democratic losses in the 2010 midterms cost the party roughly 700 state seats. Those efforts showed that control of statehouses shapes redistricting and policy for a decade at a time, a prize that has kept presidents invested in races far below their own name on the ballot.