Rep. Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for governor of Florida, posted a video on X stating that voters in the state will reject socialism this November and help protect the Florida Dream. In the clip, Donalds said he believes in the conservative mission and that Floridians know what is best for the state. Online users reacted after the post, with some self-described Republicans calling him a “lying grifter” and saying they would not support him, while others pointed to rival David Jolly.
In the clip, Donalds appears in a television-style interview setting. On-screen captions show him saying, “We fully believe Republican voters,” and “we’re the best state.” He continues, “Even our Democrats love Florida,” and refers to a leadership record that “created the greatest state.”
Later in the footage, he addresses “people of Florida this November,” saying they should defend the Florida Dream, and adds, “We need to bring an affordable Florida today and into the future.” The video does not show the full interview or the questions he was answering.
In the accompanying post text, Donalds wrote that he believes in the conservative mission and that “Florida voters know what’s best for our state.” He said that this November “they’ll reject socialism, choose common sense, and help us protect and defend the Florida Dream.”
Donalds, a congressman from southwest Florida, is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis against Democrat David Jolly. Recent statewide surveys have described the race as close: a St. Pete Polls survey for Florida Politics put Donalds at 44% and Jolly at 43%, while a Change Research poll of likely voters had Jolly at 48% and Donalds at 46%. Those figures have not been independently verified here.
How Viewers Are Responding to the Florida Dream Post
Some users backed Donalds. One wrote, “GooooooooOOOOOOOO Byron!! My next Governor #Florida.” Another said, “Vote Byron Donalds and help save America.” A third replied, “So real.”
Others were critical, including some who described themselves as Republicans. One wrote, “There’s nothing conservative about Byron.”
A user who said they had been a Republican for 49 years posted, “Not in a million years will this lying grifter get my vote,” and added they were “voting for Jolly.”
Another compared him unfavorably with DeSantis and wrote, “There is no way in hell that I would ever vote for this *expletive*.”
A further reply said, “Jolly sucks too,” but added, “I despise Donalds, but he will win because Florida despises socialism.”
Separate comments urged a vote against Donalds, with one stating, “David Jolly all the way,” and another calling to “reject” him over costs and “#VoteBlue26.”
The post now sits alongside other exchanges in the Florida governor’s race, with Donalds and Jolly still competing for votes ahead of November. How those arguments land with voters remains to be seen at the ballot box.
