MIAMI — Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds said he is aiming for "north of 20%" of the Black vote during a speech at the Black Professionals Summit's Legacy Con on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Donalds has spent nine years in Congress and the Florida state House and is one of three candidates this year who could become the first Black Republican governors ever elected.

He told the audience that his campaign does not center on racial identity. "I don't talk about my race in this campaign," he said, adding that Floridians are more concerned with performance than personal background.

"Florida is a meritocracy. Here in Florida, we have people who have come from so many different parts of the country. What they really care about now is: Can you get the job done?"

The candidate suggested political alignment among Black voters is evolving. "I think the other thing with Black voters: they're starting to not be as monolithically tied to the Democrat Party," he said, noting that many are assessing leadership qualities when choosing candidates.

"I think there's a lot of Black voters who are looking at my campaign because they're just trying to figure out who's going to be the best person to lead Florida into the future." He emphasized that his campaign’s outreach is broad. "We're actually targeting every voter." He acknowledged the unusual nature of his bid. "It's wild, honestly." Only three Black governors have been elected in U.S. history. If elected, he would be the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history and the first Black governor in the Deep South.

He discussed his ties to President Trump, who endorsed him. "Look at the issues I'm pushing forward. Look at the ideas that I talk about. Yes, the president's endorsed me. Yes, a couple years ago I endorsed him to be president. But I'm running to be governor of Florida." The campaign includes door-knocking efforts among Black voters in North Miami and Broward County, and Hispanic voters in Doral and Hialeah.

Donalds has roots in the Tea Party movement and aligns with the conservative or MAGA wing of the Republican Party. In 2024, he co-headlined a multi-city tour with Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas called "Congress, Cigars & Cognac," which sought to connect Black voters with Trump’s message.

Jermaine Woodside, 54, said associating with President Trump could damage Donalds’ chances. "That's going to hurt him, and that's the reason why I was reluctant to be a part of his campaign," Woodside said. Kalyn James protested a meet-and-greet event in Overtown by holding a sign that read "Vote Blue" with Donalds' name crossed out.

Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of the nonpartisan voting rights group Equal Ground, questioned his outreach strategy. "Byron Donalds has been Black at the start of this election, and he will be Black at the end of this election. Black voters are not going to be fooled by his targeting and his manipulation tactics to pander to get their vote," she said. Democratic nominee David Jolly signed Equal Ground's candidate pledge to support a Democratic-backed state voting rights bill. Donalds voted against the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and declined to back the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act, named after two Black activists killed for their voting rights advocacy. Kalyn James said: "I just don't think that he has a buy-in that he thinks he has. And honestly, [his win] would make history, but I think he'd be on the wrong side of history."

According to the Florida Division of Elections, fewer than 100,000 Black voters are registered as Republicans in Florida, while nearly three in 10 Florida Democrats are Black. Black Republican registration rose 17% between 2022 and 2024, per state data. Exit polls showed about 13% of Black voters supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’s 2022 reelection.

In Florida, President Trump received around 15% of the Black vote during his 2024 presidential run. A Democrat has not won the Florida governor's office since the 1990s. Legacy Con organizers invited Democratic nominee David Jolly to speak, but he did not attend, citing a scheduling conflict.

Timeline

On November 8, 2022, exit polls indicated about 13% of Black voters backed Gov. Ron DeSantis's reelection bid. On January 1, 2024, Donalds co-led a multi-city tour with Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas titled "Congress, Cigars & Cognac." On November 5, 2024, President Trump received approximately 15% of the Black vote in Florida during his 2024 presidential campaign. On October 3, 2026, Donalds spoke at the Black Professionals Summit's Legacy Con. Also on October 3, 2026, organizers extended an invitation to Democratic nominee David Jolly, but he did not attend due to a scheduling conflict.

On October 4, 2026, he stated, "Florida is a meritocracy. Here in Florida, we have people who have come from so many different parts of the country. What they really care about now is: Can you get the job done?" Later that day, he said, "I don't talk about my race in this campaign."

What's New

Reporting shows Donalds labeled Democratic opponent David Jolly a "Trojan horse" for progressive politics. He secured the Republican nomination one day after making that statement. Context indicates that in the 2024 presidential election, 15% of Florida’s Black voters supported Trump, compared to 13% for DeSantis in 2022, suggesting a shift in support.

Data also shows Black Republican voter registration in Florida increased by 17% from 2022 to 2024, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Records confirm Donalds opposed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and declined to support the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act, named for two Black activists murdered for their civil rights work.

On policy, he said, "David Jolly is somebody who thinks it’s still OK for boys to be in girls’ sports. Just pure insanity." Jolly responded that he has "no plans" to alter Florida’s current law banning trans student-athletes from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.

Why It Matters

The election could reshape Florida politics, as a Democrat has not won the governor's office since the 1990s. His campaign aims at a demographic where fewer than 100,000 Black voters are registered as Republicans, though Black Republican registration grew by 17% from 2022 to 2024. The result may produce the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history and the first Black governor in the Deep South.

Voting rights remain contested, with Donalds declining to sign a pledge supporting a Democratic-backed state voting rights bill while his opponent David Jolly signed it. Donalds previously opposed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and refused to back the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act. Critics say these actions undermine his outreach, while he maintains his focus is on meritocracy and delivering results for all voters.