Full Breakdown
Byron Donalds Strips Trump References from Florida Governor Campaign Site
By Drooid · · How we work
The Website Change
The updated page no longer displays the photograph of Donalds with President Donald Trump or the “Trump-Endorsed Proven Conservative Fighter” label that appeared in a September 3 screen-grab. A rolling list of endorsements still mentions Trump’s name, but the visual emphasis on the former president has been removed.
Poll Landscape and Competitive Race
A St. Pete Polls poll commissioned by Florida Politics, fielded September 15-17, recorded Donalds at 44 % and Democrat David Jolly at 43 % of likely voters (±3.2 pp). Election forecasters now rate the contest as “Lean Republican” after moving it from “Likely Republican.”
Background: Prior Alignment with Trump
Donalds has long highlighted his relationship with Trump. The former president endorsed Donalds in the GOP primary and praised him as a “Trump-endorsed proven conservative fighter.” The recent website revision marks a visible shift as other Florida Republicans, such as Rep. María Elvira Salazar, have also begun to distance themselves from Trump.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Jolly campaign noted Donalds’ refusal to debate, characterizing the website change as a tactical move to “fool Florida voters.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our campaign website reflects Byron's focus on the issues that matter most to Floridians — affordability, insurance costs and government transparency,” — Republican Byron Donalds, next Florida governor
- “Byron Donalds is panicked about David Jolly's momentum and is trying to fool Florida voters with a desperate website change,” — Mark Riddle, senior adviser to the Jolly campaign
Timeline
- September 3 – Screen-grab shows Trump-endorsed banner and photo on Donalds’ site.
- September 22 – Updated site launches without Trump imagery; new slogan added.
- July 8-17 – University of North Florida poll shows Donalds up 5 points.
- July 20-26 – James Madison Institute poll shows Donalds up 7 points.
- September 7-9 – Change Research poll gives Jolly a 3-point lead.
- September 15-17 – St. Pete Polls poll shows a statistical tie.
- October 4 – Florida secretary of state will release additional voting information.
What’s Next
The Florida secretary of state will release further voting details after October 4. Both campaigns have discussed debate arrangements, with the Jolly team citing Donalds’ “ducking” of scheduled forums. Voters will decide the outcome on November 3.