Florida Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Byron Donalds says he has no intention of stepping onto a debate stage with rivals who, in his view, have yet to earn it.
With just weeks remaining before Florida’s Aug. 18 Republican primary, Donalds is brushing aside criticism over his refusal to participate in candidate debates, arguing that the rest of the field has failed to gain meaningful support while his campaign continues to dominate both polling and fundraising.
“I’ve been consistent,” Donalds told Fox News Digital. “These guys are in single digits. They stay in single digits.”
The congressman, who is leaving the House to run for governor, has hovered around 50 percent in most public polling since entering the race. His closest competitors remain well behind, and his campaign has amassed more than $90 million, dwarfing every other Republican candidate in the contest.
Given those numbers, Donalds says his focus remains on voters—not providing struggling campaigns with a nationally televised opportunity to elevate themselves.
“They should spend their time going to see the people of Florida because they’re not getting much support at all,” he said.
Trump’s Endorsement Changed the Race
Donalds entered the race with one of the most valuable assets in Republican politics: President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
The endorsement immediately positioned Donalds as the clear favorite among Florida’s sizable MAGA base and helped establish him as the candidate to beat in a field that includes Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and investor James Fishback.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited from seeking reelection, has yet to endorse a successor.
Earlier this month, Donalds’ three Republican opponents participated in a gubernatorial debate without him. Although the frontrunner was absent, he remained one of the evening’s dominant topics of discussion as candidates repeatedly criticized his decision to skip the event.
Fishback Tries to Force the Issue
Among Donalds’ most vocal critics has been businessman James Fishback, whose unconventional campaign has generated headlines for tactics ranging from using Tinder to reach younger female voters to proposing a controversial “sin tax” that drew backlash from creators on adult platform OnlyFans.
More recently, Fishback attempted to confront Donalds directly by showing up outside one of his campaign events and publicly demanding that he participate in a Republican debate.
Donalds dismissed the episode as political theater.
“Another stunt,” he said. “Another stunt with people trying to get attention as opposed to taking their mission, their vision, their ideas to the people of Florida to earn support.”
“I’m not going to play with stunts. I’m not going to engage in that stuff.”
Fishback rejected the criticism, arguing that his campaign has spent more time on the ground than anyone else in the race.
“I’m the only campaign in Florida history running for governor that has met voters in all 67 counties,” Fishback told Fox News Digital. “I have done twice as many events as Byron Donalds in just the last month.”
Do Frontrunners Owe Their Rivals a Debate?
Fishback also argued that debates aren’t about helping trailing candidates—they’re about giving voters the opportunity to compare those seeking office.
“That’s what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris tried to do,” he said of Donalds’ reluctance to debate. “Voters deserve candidates who are willing to debate before them.”
The criticism reflects a familiar argument that surfaces whenever a clear frontrunner declines to participate in debates.
Supporters of debates argue that candidates seeking high office should answer unscripted questions and defend their records in front of voters.
Campaigns leading comfortably in the polls often see things differently. From a strategic standpoint, debates offer far more upside for underdogs than they do for the candidate sitting atop the field.
That’s particularly true in Republican primaries, where frontrunners have increasingly opted to bypass debates altogether. President Trump famously skipped multiple GOP primary debates during the 2024 presidential campaign while maintaining a commanding lead over his rivals.
A Comfortable Lead—But Not a Victory Yet
For now, Donalds appears firmly in control of the race.
Still, the congressman says he isn’t taking the outcome for granted despite his commanding position.
“We’re in a really good position,” Donalds said, “but we take nothing for granted, so just keep working.”
Florida Republicans will make the final decision on Aug. 18, when voters head to the polls to choose their nominee for governor.
Until then, Donalds appears content letting his polling numbers—and his campaign war chest—do most of the talking.
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