Byron Donalds Seeks Broader Support From Black Florida Voters
Wertynews.com – Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds is making a more direct appeal to Black voters during the final stretch of his campaign, arguing that political loyalties are becoming less fixed and that his candidacy should be judged on the issues facing the state.
During a series of outreach events in the Miami area, Donalds said he is aiming to receive more than 20% of the Black vote. The target would exceed the level of support Gov. Ron DeSantis received from Black voters in his 2022 reelection race, when exit polls showed roughly 13% backing him. Donald Trump received about 15% of Florida’s Black vote in the 2024 presidential contest.
“I think there’s a lot of Black voters who are looking at my campaign because they’re just trying to figure out who’s going to be the best person to lead Florida into the future.”
Donalds, a Florida congressman for nine years, has generally avoided placing racial identity at the center of his political message. Yet the possibility of becoming a historic figure has become impossible to ignore. Only three Black governors have been elected in U.S. history, and Donalds is one of three nominees this year who could become the first Black Republican governor elected in their respective states.
When asked about that prospect, Donalds briefly reflected on the significance of the moment.
“It’s wild, honestly.”
His approach is less focused on identity than on a broader case for competence and opportunity. Speaking at Legacy Con, part of the Black Professionals Summit, Donalds told attendees that Florida’s population includes people who arrived from many parts of the country and that voters want leaders who can deliver results.
“Florida is a meritocracy. Here in Florida, we have people who have come from so many different parts of the country. What they really care about now is: Can you get the job done?”
From National Surrogate to Statewide Candidate
Donalds has experience taking a Republican message into audiences that may not naturally align with his party. During the 2024 election cycle, he was among Trump’s most prominent representatives in outreach to Black voters across the country. He and Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt led a multi-city series of informal discussions known as “Congress, Cigars & Cognac,” designed to hold direct conversations in settings where Trump’s message often faced skepticism.
Now Donalds is using a similar model in his own statewide campaign. Instead of acting as a surrogate for another candidate, he is asking voters to assess his plans for Florida and his personal record in public office.
He rejected the idea that his campaign is limiting itself to a narrow group of voters. Donalds pointed to canvassing efforts in Black communities in North Miami and Broward County, as well as outreach to Hispanic voters in Doral and Hialeah. Florida’s political landscape often requires candidates to compete across regions and communities with distinct concerns, from Miami-Dade County to the fast-growing suburbs and more conservative parts of the state.
Legacy Con organizers said Democratic nominee David Jolly was also invited to speak at the summit. Jolly did not attend because of a scheduling conflict.
Trump Alliance Remains a Major Question
For some voters, Donalds’ long-standing connection to Trump remains a central issue. At a campaign stop at Lorna’s Caribbean Restaurant, a Black-owned business in Miami Gardens, 54-year-old Jermaine Woodside said he initially approached Donalds with reservations. After joining an hour-long dinner conversation, Woodside said he was more willing to consider the congressman, but he remained concerned about the political cost of Donalds’ association with Trump.
“That’s going to hurt him, and that’s the reason why I was reluctant to be a part of his campaign.”
Donalds has argued that an endorsement from Trump should not become the sole measure of his campaign. He said voters should focus on the policy agenda he is presenting as a candidate for governor.
“Look at the issues I’m pushing forward. Look at the ideas that I talk about. Yes, the president’s endorsed me. Yes, a couple years ago I endorsed him to be president. But I’m running to be governor of Florida.”
The distinction may matter to voters weighing national political divisions against state-level concerns. A governor’s race is shaped by questions about economic growth, public services, education, housing pressures, insurance costs, transportation, and the management of a state with a large and diverse population. Donalds’ effort is built around the argument that Florida voters can separate his gubernatorial candidacy from the national figures who have influenced his political career.
Skepticism at Miami-Area Events
Not every attendee accepted that argument. Kalyn James, a Miami resident, came alone to an outdoor meet-and-greet in Overtown, a predominantly Black neighborhood. While Donalds spoke with people at the event, James held a “Vote Blue” sign with his name crossed out.
“I just don’t think that he has a buy-in that he thinks he has. And honestly, [his win] would make history, but I think he’d be on the wrong side of history.”
Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the nonpartisan voting-rights organization Equal Ground, also questioned the campaign’s outreach. She noted that Donalds did not sign the group’s candidate pledge supporting a Democratic-backed Florida voting rights proposal that Jolly signed.
Her criticism reflects a larger challenge for Donalds: outreach events can create opportunities for direct contact, but voters may judge them against positions taken over years in office. For candidates seeking support beyond their traditional base, credibility often depends on whether their policy record and campaign message appear aligned.
With less than a month remaining in the campaign, Donalds is attempting to persuade Black voters that they should not be treated as a single political bloc. His appeal rests on a straightforward proposition: evaluate the candidates on their plans for Florida, not solely on party affiliation, race, or national political alliances. Whether that message can move enough skeptical voters will be a key test in the closing weeks of the race.
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