The post Byron Donalds takes affordability pitch to Palm Coast on ‘Defending the Florida Dream’ tour appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds rolled his Defending the Florida Dream tour into Flagler County on Saturday, working a Palm Coast crowd on affordability a day after pressing his party to coalesce behind him as the front-runner for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
The Palm Coast stop landed just as the Democratic field reshuffled. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspended his campaign Friday after a prostate cancer diagnosis, leaving former Rep. David Jolly as the presumptive Democratic nominee — and prompting Donalds to declare the General Election already under way.
“With the announcement of Jerry Demings dropping out of the Democrat primary for Governor, the general election starts today,” Donalds said.
On the trail, Donalds worked the affordability message that has anchored the tour, drawing a contrast with the status quo on the cost of living and pledging to cut the regulatory burdens he blames for pushing prices higher.
“Across the state, Floridians are telling me the same thing: they want Florida to remain Florida,” Donalds said. “I’m fighting everyday to make sure everyone has a shot at living the Florida Dream.”
The campaign described the Palm Coast turnout as large and energetic and cast it as a sign of momentum.
“The energy in Palm Coast tonight was undeniable, this is what a winning campaign looks like,” said Skylar Swanson, Press Secretary for the campaign. “With President Trump’s endorsement behind him and crowds like tonight proving the momentum is real, Byron Donalds is the clear choice to unite the party and defeat radical Democrats in November.”
Donalds, who has raised $81 million, has made clear he would rather spend in the General Election than the Primary now that Democrats have a presumptive nominee. He cites his “COMPLETE and TOTAL endorsement” from President Donald Trump and a lead of more than 40 points in multiple public polls, and says he will take his message to voters through town halls, community meetings, business roundtables, and door knocking — not a debate stage. With more than two months until the Aug. 18 Primary, he argues continued GOP infighting only helps Democrats.
His remaining rivals see it differently. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former House Speaker Paul Renner both insist on debates. “Jay Collins is calling out Byron Donalds. Any stage. Any moderator. Any time. The callout is on the table — the only question left is whether Byron answers the bell, or keeps running,” reads The Collins Callout, a site Collins launched Friday that concedes Donalds is the prohibitive front-runner. Renner went further, faulting both men for ducking. “Floridians deserve to see the differences between the candidates. Stop ducking and let’s get on stage,” he said in a video posted to social media.
Fundraising reports through May are due June 10 and will signal how much fight Collins and Renner have for the stretch run. Through the end of March, Renner had raised more than $6 million and Collins roughly $1.75 million.
— Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review were performed by Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team.
The post Byron Donalds takes affordability pitch to Palm Coast on ‘Defending the Florida Dream’ tour appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
