A lopsided Governor’s race on the Republican side may yet be getting some drama, as Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida GOP Chair Evan Power are sparring about the party’s decision to discourage debates between candidates for Governor
The decision is due to a lack of contenders meeting the party’s criteria: 10% support in the Republican Party of Florida’s own poll; more than $10 million raised; and more than 10,000 donors.
DeSantis jumped into a thread Power had on X where he said candidates would be allowed to speak at the Sunshine Showdown, but not to engage each other in debates.
In a rare public rebuke, DeSantis said Power “should not be insulting the intelligence of Republican voters.”
“A debate was promised and these ridiculous criteria are being used to renege on that promise and to engineer a preferred outcome. Why not just take 90 minutes, find a tv partner, and let the candidates mix it up? The only reason why you wouldn’t is if the party hierarchy is serving outside interests instead of the best interests of the voters,” DeSantis added.
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins quickly retweeted DeSantis.
“Couldn’t agree with our Governor more. Let’s not insult the voters’ intelligence. Debates are not going to be the end all be all for this race. That said, if Byron Donalds can’t show up to one, and if he keeps hiding behind the RPOF, voters need to take notice,” Collins said.
“Thank you,” said James Fishback. “Enough is enough.”
During a press conference Friday, DeSantis criticized the party for discouraging debates.
“You know, the party has a very limited role. (It) really should be a candidate-driven process and not for people to be making decisions who voters have never voted into those positions to begin with. So line up something with TV, line up something, radio, all these different forms. there’s a whole host of ways that you can do,” he said.
After that press conference, former House Speaker Paul Renner wondered if the Florida GOP had become “the Democrat party.”
“What have we become?”
DeSantis has criticized Donalds for months, saying the Trump-aligned Congressman wasn’t any help in fights DeSantis spearheaded in recent years.
Donalds says he is “not concerned.”
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