Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for Florida governor, posted on X to clarify a circulating clip from a POLITICO interview in which he said, “I don’t care,” about the roughly 10 percent of primary voters who backed James Fishback. In the post, Donalds wrote that he doesn’t care who people supported in the primary and that he wants to earn every Floridian’s vote by focusing on making the state less expensive. The post drew skeptical responses online, with some users stating the clarification did not match the interview and others indicating they would not support him in the general election.
The video shows a brief segment from a POLITICO interview between Donalds and host Dasha Burns. In the footage, after Burns notes that “one in ten voters” supported primary opponent James Fishback, Donalds responds, “I don’t care. That’s…listen, every voter has to decide on the ballot. We’re focused on winning the November election. And so at the end of it all, it’s about making sure that people understand the ideals that we fight for, the ideals we support.” The clip does not include the full surrounding exchange from the interview.
In his post, Donalds wrote that what he actually said was that he does not care who people voted for in the primary, that he wants to earn the vote of every Floridian, and that he cares about making Florida less expensive so young people can buy a home and start a family.
According to reporting from Florida Politics, James Fishback said he is withholding his endorsement of Donalds in part because the circulating clip was framed as Donalds not caring about Fishback’s primary supporters. Recent public polls have shown Donalds leading or in a close contest with Democrat David Jolly, though results vary by survey.
How Viewers Are Responding to the Clarification Post
Some commenters focused on the primary and questioned the clarification. One wrote, “The gaslighting is crazy. This is not about what Jolly will and won’t do, but how you’ve treated Fishback supporters throughout the primary till now.”
Another said, “You gonna care when you don’t get that vote. I believe Fishback voters will spite vote.” A third added, “I find this fascinating; you had an opportunity to earn everyone’s vote, all you needed to do was a debate during the primaries. Now, all you are left with is a hollow victory.”
Other users expressed support for Donalds in the general election. One commenter wrote, “I did not vote for you in the primary. However, my family, and most logical Floridians, are putting our faith in you to keep Florida moving in the path Gov. DeSantis has put us on. Please don’t let him or Pres. Trump down. Keep Florida the greatest state in the U.S!”
Another stated, “Excited to vote Donalds and straight GOP all down the ticket.”
For now, the exchange has become part of the ongoing discussion around Republican unity ahead of the general election. Online reactions remain split between those questioning Donalds’ outreach to primary voters and those signaling support for his campaign against David Jolly.
