Donalds pushes Broward Republicans to turn out

Byron Donalds rallied the Republican base in Broward on Wednesday, telling supporters if they like the way Florida has been governed, they’ll get even more of what they like if he’s elected governor.

“We’re the envy of the other 49 states. And what has made us that envy is we have lived in our state the last 28 years under common-sense, conservative principles,” Donalds said. “That’s what’s made us the envy.

“So why would we, why would you, why would the people here in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale — or whether it’s Escambia County and Pensacola — why would we turn our state over to the same Democrats that ruined so many other states in the northern part of this country? Why would we do that?” Donalds asked. “We want Florida to remain strong. We want Florida to remain free. We want Florida to remain red, and the Democrats will not have power here in the great state of Florida.”

Donalds delivered that message in Broward County, the last big remaining bastion of the Democratic Party in Florida, where Republicans are third place, with 25% of registered voters, behind Democrats and no-party affiliation/independents.

As the second most populous county in the state, it’s home to 276,000 active registered Republicans — and a growing number of elected Republican officials. Still during a midday rally of about 100 people at The Floridian restaurant, Donalds depicted himself as doing something unusual, almost brave, by campaigning in Fort Lauderdale.

“My only question here on Las Olas at The Floridian in Fort Lauderdale — and they would say Republicans don’t come and campaign in Fort Lauderdale, right? Well, I’m the Republican that comes and campaigns in Fort Lauderdale,” he said. “My only question for you is, ‘Are you with me? Are you going to get out and vote? Are you going to do what’s necessary to keep Florida free?”

With the tables pushed to the side, Donalds offered something different than the usual Floridian lunch fare to some 100 people. The event was less about trying to persuade undecided voters to vote for him and the other Republicans, and more about rallying Republicans to turn out and vote.

Warming up the crowd, Donalds’ running mate, state Sen. Bryan Avila of Miami-Dade County, told the crowd that each of them needs to call or text 10 people every day until Election Day on Nov. 3, make sure that each one is going to vote, and make sure that each would vote Republican.

Avila likened Democrats to an invasive species that needed to be stopped.

“We know that in Broward County, just like in Miami-Dade County, just like in Palm Beach County and a lot of parts in our state, we have a lot of invasive species,” Avila said. “We’ve got lionfish, we’ve got iguanas, we’ve got chameleons that probably change colors less than David Jolly has in the past 10 years. We’ve got pythons. But let me tell you, the greatest threat, the greatest threat, the greatest threat to our state, to the free state of Florida, are socialist policies.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jolly is a former Republican turned Democrat. Donalds is a former Democrat turned Republican. Donalds’ transformation came much earlier in life than Jolly’s.

Previewing Donalds’ argument that things are going well in Florida and must be maintained, Avila said “the media will not tell you” about what he said was the state’s stellar performance with job creation, the economy, and education, which he said has come about “because of common sense conservative leadership in Tallahassee.”

Donalds mentioned his Democratic opponent, David Jolly, only once — to say he didn’t want to talk about him. One name that was never mentioned: President Donald Trump, whose early endorsement of Donalds gave him the momentum that helped propel Donalds to victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Multiple public opinion polls show the president isn’t popular among the broader electorate, with voters concerned over continuing high costs of food and gasoline and the war with Iran.

Several times Donalds and Avila approvingly cited Gov. Ron DeSantis, who remains popular with the Republican base. “Going forward in our state, we’re going to build on the success of Governor DeSantis,” Donalds said.

Printed cards at the event urged people to vote for “Florida’s Dream Team!” with a notation that it has been “Endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.” Trump’s name wasn’t included.

Though he and Avila said things were going swimmingly in Florida, Donalds’ campaign promises in effect acknowledged criticisms Democrats have made about Republicans’ decades in control of state government.

“What we need to do as a government is make sure we’re lowering insurance costs in our states, that we’re lowering the cost of housing in our states, that we reform our government to make sure we can make a Florida that is more affordable for everybody,” he said.

One attendee, a longtime Republican activist, was apparently dissatisfied with what he heard. He began yelling at Donalds from the back of the room, but was escorted out.

Others liked what they saw.

“He’s common sense,” said Vincent Cento of Deerfield Beach. “I love the way he talks.
I love how he thinks. He thinks like me and I love it. I’m an everyday person.” He said he’s seen Donalds on TV, but Wednesday was the first time he’s seen him in person.

“I can’t sit there on the TV and go, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can’t sit there on my feed. I gotta show my physical support for all Republicans, all down ballot because Nov. 4th I want to sleep good,” Cento said.

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds takes selfies with supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds poses for a photo with supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Supporters sign the campaign bus for Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds after he spoke to supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds hugs a supporter during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds takes photos with supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Ira Cor of Plantation got a selfie with Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Republican candidate for governor Byron Donalds speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Next to Donalds, from left, is state Sen. Bryan Avila, the lieutenant governor candidate; Michele Merrell, Donalds’ Broward campaign chair (wearing gold); state Rep. Chip LaMarca (in a blue suit) and Weston Mayor Peggy Brown (in a red Donalds T-shirt). (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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“I was born and raised a Democrat in Massachusetts,” Cento said. He kept that affiliation after moving to Florida 46 years ago. When Trump began his first presidential campaign, “that’s when I opened my eyes.” He’s not among the voters whose views of the president have dimmed. “You need a tough guy.”

Ira Cor of Plantation, who also said it was the first time he saw Donalds in person, stayed to get a selfie with the candidate. Cor said he supports the “common sense” he said he heard.

Donalds stayed for selfies with anyone in the crowd that wanted one, then went next door to talk to Jewish voters at the Chabad Jewish Center. The Donalds campaign said news media representatives weren’t allowed in.

Donalds also sat for a lengthy taped TV interview. He often answers questions from reporters at his events, but didn’t in Fort Lauderdale, one of several stops he made Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll showed a dead heat in the race for governor, with 49% of likely voters for Donalds and 47% for Democrat David Jolly. Undecided was 4%.

The addition of the UNF poll brought the average of polls compiled by FiftyPlusOne to a four-point lead for Donalds, 48.5% to 44.5% for Jolly.

Donalds said he’d end up winning. “We’re 13 days, 13 days away from Election Day. We’re going to choose the next governor here in the great state of Florida, and let me let you in on a little secret: I’m gonna be your next governor,” Donalds said.

The Floridian gathering included Republican elected officials — state Rep. Chip LaMarca and Weston Mayor Peggy Brown — and party activists and candidates.

Among them: Michele Merrell, the county’s elected state Republican committeewoman who is also Donalds county campaign chair; Heather Moraitis, a candidate for Fort Lauderdale City Commission; and Yoni Anijar, a candidate for state representative.

Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.

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