Feb 28, 2025 Story by: Editor
Florida gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) responded on Wednesday to criticism from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who suggested that the congressman has not contributed to conservative victories in the state. Donalds defended his record in the Florida legislature, highlighting his past achievements.
“My record when I was in the state legislature speaks for itself,” Donalds told The Hill. “I even stood up to my own party to protect gun rights in Florida. When I was there, I passed the first in the nation bill allowing parents to examine instructional materials.”
Expressing support for the governor’s work, Donalds added, “I’m very happy with what the governor has done in our state. My plan if I’m successful is to build on top of what he’s done and take our state to another level.”
Donalds, who served in Florida’s state House from 2016 to 2020, officially launched his gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday. His remarks came in response to DeSantis’s comments during a recent press conference in Florida.
“The reality is we’ve achieved victories in Florida. We need to start achieving those victories up there,” DeSantis said. “I think people look at it and say you’ve got a guy like Byron, he just hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the last years. He’s just not been a part of it. He’s been in other states campaigning doing that and that’s fine, but OK, then deliver results up there.”
Tensions between DeSantis and Donalds date back to the 2024 Republican presidential primary, when Donalds endorsed former President Trump instead of DeSantis. The two also clashed in 2023 over state education guidelines on African American history, which were implemented under DeSantis’s administration.
Additionally, DeSantis has promoted his wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, as a strong candidate to further his political legacy. Reports suggest that the governor and the first lady are seriously considering her candidacy.
With both Donalds and Casey DeSantis potentially in the race, speculation has arisen about whether Florida’s GOP primary could turn into a proxy battle between Trump and DeSantis. However, Donalds downplayed this notion, saying, “It’s too soon for all of that.”
“Let’s see what happens,” he said. “The response from people in my state has been very, very good. I’m very happy with it.”
Regarding the overall race, Donalds remained uncertain, stating, “I’m not sure how the whole primary is going to shape up.” Source: The Hill
