Byron Donalds Rejects Racism Claim After Winning Florida GOP Nod With 48%
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 29
Byron Donalds Rejects Racism Claim After Winning Florida GOP Nod With 48%
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 29
Summary
Byron Donalds used HBO's "Real Time" to reject Bill Maher's claim that racism cost him heavily White Panhandle counties in Florida's GOP primary, arguing the state is a "meritocracy."
48% of the vote and about 800,000 ballots, Donalds said, were enough to secure the nomination in an 11-candidate field, which he cited to explain losses in some rural counties.
Maher pointed to 17 rural counties where roughly 94% of Republican voters are White and said some voters there still would not back a Black Republican, even one aligned with Trump.
Dave Aronberg said Donalds' sub-50% finish still raises questions because few rivals were viable despite his fundraising and name-recognition edge, and he warned the November race will be no cakewalk.
Donalds also defended Trump's tariffs when Maher argued they are hurting affordability, saying Florida voters are focused on pocketbooks but want a president who fights for U.S. businesses.