Full Breakdown
Byron Donalds Engages Florida Students in Contested Townhalls
By Drooid · · How we work
Townhall Events and Topics
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds addressed students at Florida A&M University (FAMU) on a Tuesday evening and at the University of Florida (UF) on the following Wednesday. The FAMU gathering was organized by students to foster civic discourse; it was briefly disrupted by a false fire alarm and a chaotic security escort. Over 100 attendees filled the UF hall, which opened with a prayer and remarks on Donalds’s public-service background. In both forums Donalds discussed immigration enforcement, opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, property-tax relief, school-choice measures, and a “free-speech absolutist” stance.
Official Statements & Policy Positions
He reiterated support for Florida’s ban on government DEI initiatives, arguing that merit-based standards should drive opportunity. On education, he defended the state’s AP African American Studies curriculum and called for greater local school-board authority and parental access to materials. Regarding voting, Donalds questioned the need for pre-clearance under the Voting Rights Act, claiming no recent race-based discrimination in his home county. He also endorsed Amendment 3, a proposal to lower property taxes, and pledged to protect First Amendment rights while confronting antisemitic harassment.
Student and Community Criticism
FAMU students expressed skepticism that the university was “subtly trying to push” Donalds, noting his limited personal experience at the institution. Concerns were raised about ICE agents on campus and the potential profiling of Black and brown students. Critics argued that Donalds’s DEI opposition disregards merit and ignores historic benefits of race-considerate policies. At UF, a Jewish freshman urged the candidate to condemn rising antisemitism, while other attendees described his answers as lacking substance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Let's be very clear, as governor, if you're an American or legal resident and somebody who is in our country lawfully, you will have nothing to fear from federal immigration,” — Byron Donalds
- “I think in the essence of these conversations, what gets lost is that politics has been playing with America's immigration laws and standards for far too long,” — Byron Donalds
- “The future of our society has to be based upon diversity and merit, and merit is earned every day in the workforce,” — Byron Donalds
- “We also have to have a market system based upon opportunity and merit and achievement and if you have that then what ends up happening is people with real skills get the ability to excel,” — Byron Donalds
- “We want to continue to have a great state where people can chase their dreams,” — Byron Donalds