Florida GOP Cancels June Side‑by‑Side Debate After Only Donalds Met Party Criteria

Overview

• The Republican Party of Florida announced it would not hold a full gubernatorial debate at its June 27 Sunshine State Showdown because only U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds cleared the party’s three benchmarks: at least 10% in the RPOF poll, more than $10 million raised, and over 10,000 donors.
• Donalds holds a commanding lead in multiple polls and fundraising totals and has major endorsements including President Trump, positions that the party said justify restricting sanctioned events to candidates with demonstrated statewide support.
• Gov. Ron DeSantis and contenders including Paul Renner and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins publicly criticized the party’s move as closing off voter-facing scrutiny, and Collins launched a website and petition urging Donalds to debate.
• The RPOF rescinded James Fishback’s invitation for participating in an unsanctioned forum, accusing him of violating party rules and making racist and antisemitic attacks, while Fishback has scheduled a separate July 15 debate that he says will proceed regardless of Donalds’ attendance.
• The dispute could shrink voter exposure to head-to-head questioning ahead of the Aug. 18 Republican primary and is already driving unsanctioned forums and political fights that could shape who gains momentum in the decisive statewide contest.