Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds attempts to sway Black voters in Florida despite Trump ties
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Florida Republican Byron Donalds is making a calculated push for Black votes as he campaigns for governor, downplaying identity politics while sidestepping his problematic alliance with Trump and dismissing calls for real voting rights protections.
Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, now running for governor, has launched a series of outreach events in Miami aimed at courting Black voters—a demographic long neglected or taken for granted by the GOP. Donalds claims he is targeting 'north of 20%' of the Black electorate, suggesting that Black voters are reconsidering their historic loyalty to the Democratic Party. However, his campaign is marked by an emphasis on so-called 'meritocracy,' a term often used to dismiss systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities.
Donalds has prioritized door-to-door canvassing in North Miami and Broward County, as well as outreach to Hispanic communities in Doral and Hialeah. Yet, his record as a surrogate for Donald Trump—whose administration was notorious for policies harming Black and minority communities—casts a long shadow. Trump only managed to secure about 15% of the Black vote in Florida in 2024, and DeSantis fared even worse in 2022. Donalds now hopes to surpass these low benchmarks, but skepticism remains high.
At a Black-owned restaurant in Miami Gardens, a voter openly questioned Donalds’ association with Trump, pointing out the potential harm to his campaign. Donalds deflected, urging voters to focus on his policy stances rather than his endorsements, a common tactic to avoid accountability for past alliances.
Critics, including a founder of the voting-rights group Equal Ground, have called out Donalds’ outreach as opportunistic. They highlight his refusal to sign a candidate pledge supporting a Democratic-backed voting-rights bill, exposing his lack of commitment to protecting Black voters’ rights. At another event in Overtown, a resident displayed a 'Vote Blue' sign, challenging Donalds’ authenticity and motives.
With less than a month left in the campaign, Donalds is scrambling to broaden his appeal, but his efforts may only serve to further erode trust among communities historically marginalized by Republican policies.