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▼ Bad look for DonaldsElections / Campaigns

DeSantis hits Florida GOP over Republican primary debate

Donalds declined to participate in the debate and would be the only candidate to meet the party’s announced criteria.

DeSantis hits Florida GOP over Republican primary debate
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This article1 analysis · Oct 5, 2026

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Orlandosentinelvia Tampabay
Jun 15, 2026
tl;dr

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the state Republican Party’s criteria for a gubernatorial primary debate, which would qualify only Rep. Byron Donalds. Donalds had declined to participate, while the party later rescinded another candidate’s invitation after he agreed to a separate debate.

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Byron Donalds R · FL-19
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Byron Donalds
R · FL-19

Florida gubernatorial candidate who declined the proposed debate

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ron DeSantis
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)

Florida governor criticizing the party’s debate criteria

DeSantis's version of this story ↗
Evan Power
R · FL

Florida Republican Party chair

ALSO MENTIONED  James Fishback, Florida gubernatorial candidate; Jay Collins, Florida lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate; Paul Renner, Former Florida House speaker and gubernatorial candidate

Part of a bigger story

6 OUTLETS
Florida GOP Says It Won't Hold Full Gubernatorial Debate

Florida's Republican gubernatorial debate process has drawn criticism, with Byron Donalds central to the dispute over who qualified to participate. Center outlets focus on the party’s qualification criteria and the responses to its decision, while also reporting a poll on Donalds’s race. Right-leaning outlets frame the debate dispute as favoritism toward Donalds and note that he has not accepted an invitation to a separate debate.

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