TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida’s race for governor is now officially set, and the Republican primary is heating up with a scrapped debate and new criticism among candidates.

The race to take over the governor’s mansion is jam-packed with household names:

U.S. Representative Byron Donalds

Former Congressman David Jolly

Former House Speaker Paul Renner

State Representative Dottie Joseph

And newcomer James Fishback

Fishback held a press conference in Tallahassee Friday unveiling what he calls a “Contract with Florida,” a set of seven pledges focused on issues like AI data centers, health freedom, free speech, gun rights, and abortion.

He says if he breaks those promises, the agreement will bar him from seeking reelection as governor.

The rollout comes as tensions rise within the GOP primary.

Renner, Fishback, Collins and Donalds were all supposed to debate at the Republican Party of Florida’s “Sunshine State Showdown,” but that’s now off the table.

That decision is drawing criticism, including from Governor Ron DeSantis.

“There should be a debate, they said they were going to do a debate,” said DeSantis Friday at a press conference. “It’s counterproductive when you try to engineer an outcome, because you need a coalition of voters to do well and this may be a tough cycle for Republicans.”

Fishback is also accusing Donalds of trying to block debates.

“Byron Donalds is trying to steal this election. He is trying to block debates. He is trying to rig the entire process with big, out-of-state money, and we cannot let him get away with that,” Fishback said.

Minutes before 8 On Your Side’s interview with Congressman Byron Donalds, the Republican Party of Florida pulled Fishback’s invitation to the event.

“After conversations with numerous Republican leaders, grassroots activists, and stakeholders from across Florida, it has become clear that entertaining Mr. Fishback’s overtures to participate in official Republican Party activities was a mistake,” said RPOF Chairman Evan Power. “Rather than participate in the Party’s official process, Mr. Fishback immediately chose to promote and participate in a rival, unsanctioned event in violation of Party rules. He has also continued his antisemitic and racist attacks on members of our party. As a result, the Republican Party of Florida is rescinding his invitation to participate in the Sunshine State Showdown and other official gubernatorial primary activities. We want to be clear; racism and antisemitism have no place in our party. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard and we will continue to do so at the Republican Party of Florida.”

Donalds says what happens next is up to the party chair and he plans to remain focused on his vision for the state.

“If what you’re going to do, in order to get attention, is trade in bigotry and antisemitism to try and get attention for your campaign, that’s not what the Republican party is about,” Donalds said. “You’re free to say whatever you want. That’s all well and good. But if you’re going to trade in that kind of nastiness and disgusting language and tropes and all that stuff, don’t expect to be platformed by the Republican Party. Our party was founded for the abolishment of slavery. That is the basis of why the Republican Party was created. So, that’s up to the chairman of the party. He obviously made a decision and we move on.”

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