NEW SMYRNA BEACH — A Black Republican has never been elected governor in the United States, but in 2026, here comes Byron Donalds.
The three-term congressman from Naples, who leads polls in both the Republican primary and against Democrats in November, spoke to about 200 people July 29 at a town hall in The Magnolia, a historic events venue near downtown New Smyrna Beach. He told The News-Journal in an exclusive interview afterward why people aren’t talking more about his historic run.
“I don’t really dwell on it,” Donalds said. “Am I aware of it? Yeah, I don’t dwell on it. I don’t really talk about it. It’s about the people and it’s about the issues facing our state, and really the beauty of Florida and what it’s going to become.”
He then asked his own question.
“In terms of why is it even possible? Florida is a meritocracy. We’re actually the great meritocracy in all of America, so people in our state, they just want to make sure you’re going to do a good job, do the right job, and quite frankly, maintain the value system that’s made Florida the envy of these other states.”
What is Byron Donalds’ message to voters?
Donalds said he sees prices, particularly for homeowners’ insurance, the same way voters see theirs.
“Affordability is a problem in our state. There’s a lot of stuff we’ve got to fix and get right. … These prices are high. We’ve got to bring them down.”
Donalds said he intends to stay the course set by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who pushed through reforms in a 2022 special session aimed at lowering legal costs for property insurers, thereby attracting more competition to the state.
“We’re going to keep those tort reforms in place. It’s beginning to break down the cost of insurance in Florida,” Donalds said.
Touting his background in the financial sector, Donalds said he is the right person to “fix the regulatory side,” of the homeowners’ insurance issue, leading to another 20% cost reduction.
Donalds also pledged to make permits “automatic” for certain homeowners looking to rebuild following a disaster.
“You already had a permit to build it the first time. So why would we make you wait in line to rebuild the home you already have,” Donalds said.
That, he said, should lower the replacement cost, and ultimately premiums.
Donalds said he supports the property-tax reforms − raising the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028 − before voters on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“We’re not never-ending piggy banks for government,” Donalds said. “We are free people.”
Whether Amendment 3 passes or doesn’t, Donalds pledged to have the Tax and Budget Reform Commission study all property taxes and seek reductions.
Donalds viewed by some in GOP as having presidential timbre
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, who represents the 6th District to the north of New Smyrna Beach, said he and Donalds were elected to the Florida House on the same night in 2016, and have also served together in Congress.
“We used to call ourselves the Unicorn Club. He was the only Black Republican. I was the only Jewish Republican. I used to joke that if we made a baby, it would be president. Now the Democrats will tell you that’s possible.
“The fact of the matter is Byron is doing a great job becoming president all by himself. He doesn’t need my help for that.”
Fine said while he and Donalds served together on the education committee in the Florida House, the state “created more school choice than the other 49 states in the country combined,” and that if Democrat David Jolly − who must first win his own primary Aug. 18 − is elected, school choice “goes away.”
State Rep. Chase Tramont of Port Orange said Donalds demonstrated his skills advocating for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
“He went everywhere. Wasn’t afraid to talk to anyone at any time, on any channel on any network at all,” Tramont said. “This man’s a fighter, and I’m proud to fight alongside him.”
State Sen. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach, also a member of the 2016 freshman class of the Florida House, said Donalds “overwhelmed” him with how he could command a room the first time they met, and became “one of the truest, most conservative voices” in the Florida House.
“This is a special person. This guy has no ceiling to what he can do,” Leek said.
Chris Via, former mayor of Holly Hill, brought his daughter, Blaire, backstage to meet Donalds.
“Are you going to be president?” she asked him.
Donalds responded: “I have no idea.”
Who are the 6 Black men to serve as U.S. governors?
Just six Black men in U.S. history have served as governors of a state: Oscar Dunn of Louisiana, P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana, David Paterson of New York, Douglas Wilder of Virginia, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and Wes Moore of Maryland, the only current Black governor.
Wilder, Patrick and Moore were all elected as Democrats.
Dunn, a former slave, and Pinchback were Republicans who stepped in for Louisiana Gov. Henry Clay Warmoth for short stints during the Reconstruction era. Paterson, a Democrat, succeeded New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in 2008.
Political scientist Marion Orr said in an emailed response many Black candidates running for statewide office “strategically attempt to deracialize” their campaigns.
“Deracialization is an effort to appeal to as broad of a voter base as possible − you don’t mention race or you downplay race,” said Orr, a professor of public policy, political science and urban studies at Brown University. “Hence, I am not surprised that Mr. Donalds makes little mention of his historic campaign for governor of Florida.
“I suspect Democrats, especially Black Democrats, are not talking much about his potential ascendency to the governor’s office because many of Mr. Donalds’ policy positions are not aligned with the views of the majority of Black voters in Florida,” Orr said.
Donalds on ‘dark days’ and building a Florida dream
The Brooklyn-born Donalds moved to Florida when he was 17 to attend college in Tallahassee. In 2002, Donalds earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University. He worked in the banking industry until running for Congress in 2020.
Donalds vaguely referenced some of the attacks opponents have made against him. He was arrested in 1997 on a marijuana possession charge that was later dropped through a pre-trial diversion program. In 2000, Donalds faced a bribery charge over a bad check when he “was broke.” He later made restitution, and the charge was expunged.
“I went through my ups and downs and my struggles, and I’ve talked about those a lot. There were some dark days. But through hard work and the grace of God, I was able to meet my wife Erika 23 years ago. We have three sons, and we built a Florida dream for ourselves.”
He said he entered politics because he was mad and convinced politicians were “stupid,” he told the town hall crowd. Donalds said he was a non-partisan thinker who grew his conservative philosophy, and now wants to build on the foundation laid by DeSantis and his predecessor, Rick Scott.
Republicans reject race as factor in 2026 elections
The 2026 election, Donalds said in the interview, is about ensuring Florida’s future.
“It has nothing to do with race,” Donalds said. “It has nothing to do with gender or anything like that. It’s about merit, and it’s about people truly believing you’re going to keep the Florida dream alive and well.”
Should he be elected, might Donalds inspire more African-American voters to register as Republicans? After all, in 2025 just 1.2% of the nearly 73,000 registered Republicans in Volusia County were Black.
Volusia County Republican State Committeewoman Erika Benfield, who also attended Donalds’ town hall, completely discounted Donalds’ race as an issue of concern to voters.
“What Floridians care about the most is property tax relief, affordability for our insurance, continuing on the progress that makes us one of the most desirable states in America. And then, should Congressman Donalds become our next governor, of course we can embrace all victories in the sense that the people feel that he reflects them for his principles.
“Today I feel that the color of your skin, it’s just not a big deal. I know that the Kamala Harris era, of her being the first woman (vice president). Being the … I’m the first Hispanic Republican state committeewoman. I’ve never said that publicly. It really shouldn’t be a topic that should take priority.”
Vic Baker, the Volusia County Republican state committeeman who attended Donalds’ rally, said it’s “archaic” to view candidates by their skin color.
“I don’t see Byron Donalds as the first Black Republican − I see him as a President Trump-endorsed MAGA warrior,” Baker said, adding that he is not endorsing any of the GOP candidates for governor. “I don’t think (race) is relevant anymore.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: EXCLUSIVE: Byron Donalds promises affordability at NSB town hall
Reporting by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
