Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds seeks to increase Black voter support in Florida

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a candidate for governor, has begun a series of outreach events aimed at winning over Black voters in the Miami area. He told CBS News he is targeting "north of 20%" of the Black electorate, noting that many Black voters are reassessing their traditional Democratic alignment.

Donald said the goal is to demonstrate his ability to lead Florida, adding that "Florida is a meritocracy" and that voters care about whether a candidate can get the job done. He highlighted door-to-door canvassing in North Miami and Broward County, as well as similar efforts aimed at Hispanic communities in Doral and Hialeah.

The candidate previously served as a visible surrogate for President Donald Trump on a national Black-voter tour. While Trump received about 15% of the Black vote in Florida in 2024 and Governor Ron DeSantis earned roughly 13% in 2022, Donalds hopes to exceed those figures.

During a stop at a Black-owned restaurant in Miami Gardens, a voter expressed skepticism about Donalds’ association with Trump, saying it could hurt his campaign. Donalds responded that voters should evaluate his policy positions rather than his past endorsements.

Critics, including a founder of the voting-rights group Equal Ground, argued that Donalds’ outreach appears opportunistic and noted his refusal to sign a candidate pledge supporting a Democratic-backed voting-rights bill. At a separate meet-and-greet in the Overtown neighborhood, a resident displayed a "Vote Blue" sign, questioning Donalds’ authenticity.

With less than a month left in the campaign, Donalds’ strategy focuses on expanding his appeal across demographic groups, a move that could narrow the historically Democratic advantage in Florida’s gubernatorial races.