{"id":408716,"date":"2026-09-23T23:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/408716\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T23:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:08:31","slug":"byron-donalds-david-jolly-clash-at-florida-economic-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/408716\/","title":{"rendered":"Byron Donalds, David Jolly clash at Florida economic forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly each promise to deliver a more affordable, prosperous Florida \u2014 but offer vastly different visions of how as governor they\u2019d get the state to the economic promised land.<\/p>\n

In back-to-back appearances Wednesday at a daylong economic summit in Fort Lauderdale, Jolly touted his proposal for a state catastrophic insurance fund that would be a place for all Floridians to buy windstorm insurance coverage. He said it would drastically reduce one of the biggest cost burdens on residents.<\/p>\n

Donalds said the Jolly plan would be catastrophically expensive, and later in the day his campaign released a second television ad eviscerating the idea of a government takeover of windstorm insurance, which it said would impose a \u201cmassive\u201d yearly hurricane tax of $1,000 a family.<\/p>\n

Jolly called that assertion a \u201clie.\u201d Donalds said insurance costs are already coming down, which he said shows changes made in recent years by Republicans who run state government have started working.<\/p>\n

The Republican nominee said he favors the proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would reduce property taxes for owner-occupied residential property. He said the state would, at least initially, help cushion the revenue reduction for affected local governments.<\/p>\n

Donalds downplayed the warning of service cuts from local governments, including sheriffs, police and firefighters.<\/p>\n

The Democratic nominee said he anticipates \u2014 a term he used several times on Wednesday \u2014 voting against the proposal, which he would reduce services people depend on and require the state to clean up damage he said would result if the amendment passes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will respect whatever voters decide. It will create a crisis, and the question is, who do you trust to manage that crisis when it happens?\u201d Jolly said.<\/p>\n

Both candidates said property taxes and the system of homestead exemptions needs to be changed and people need relief from property taxes.<\/p>\n

A minor area of agreement: Both said the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission should do a thorough examination of the state\u2019s property tax system and recommend changes. The commission, which is convened every 20 years, will begin its work in 2027, after this year\u2019s election.<\/p>\n

Close, but apart<\/p>\n

The candidates appeared at the Sunshine Economy Summit, presented by WLRN Public Media and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance economic development agency.<\/p>\n

With less than six weeks until Election Day, the gubernatorial candidates\u2019 appearances Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale were unusual, in that Donalds and Jolly appeared on the same stage but never crossed paths as they separately faced questions from WLRN CEO Tom Hudson, a longtime journalist specializing in business and economics.<\/p>\n

Jolly went first, and as he was exiting at the back of the room Donalds entered at the front.<\/p>\n

They may not get any closer after Jolly ruled out debates.<\/p>\n

Donalds termed Jolly\u2019s debate decision \u201csilly. Literally we were here. We could have set up a third chair and done it, but it is what it is.\u201d He said it\u2019s important for voters to \u201cjust hear the contrast between both of us\u201d \u2014 but also suggested debates aren\u2019t as important as they may have been a generation ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith social media being what it is today, voters have an opportunity to hear very clearly from just about any candidate they want to hear from,\u201d Donalds said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said something about how I lied about him \u2014 which is a lie by the way \u2014 and so he doesn\u2019t want to debate. Well, that\u2019s what debates are for, to clarify all that stuff,\u201d Donalds said.<\/p>\n

Jolly said his decision won\u2019t change. \u201cI just promise you, for me this is a moment bigger than politics. We\u2019ve got to change our politics in the country. If I thought debates provided a way to do that, sure, I would do it. I made the decision. It\u2019s final. I\u2019m not doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump factor<\/p>\n

Florida has become increasingly Republican in recent years, and the state\u2019s voters haven\u2019t elected a Democratic governor in more than three decades. But independent analysts are giving Jolly \u2014 a former Tampa Bay congressman who went from Republican to independent to Democrat \u2014 more of a chance at winning than they did several months ago.<\/p>\n

The leading nonpartisan analyses \u2014 from Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato\u2019s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia\u2019s Center for Politics \u2014 now all have the Donalds-Jolly contest in recent weeks to \u201clean\u201d Republican instead of \u201clikely\u201d or \u201csolid\u201d Republican.<\/p>\n

\"Republican<\/p>\n

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds greets Shane Strum, president and CEO of both Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, during the Sunshine Economy Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly greets Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava during the Sunshine Economy Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Republican<\/p>\n

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Republican<\/p>\n

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Republican<\/p>\n

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly discusses issues with WLRN CEO Tom Hudson during the Sunshine Economy Summit, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 10<\/p>\n

Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds greets Shane Strum, president and CEO of both Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, during the Sunshine Economy Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s early endorsement of Donalds, currently a Gulf Coast member of Congress, helped him cruise to the Republican nomination, similar to what Trump\u2019s endorsement did for Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 2018 campaign.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters after the economic forum, Donalds said he doesn\u2019t \u201cbuy into that narrative\u201d that Trump\u2019s declining popularity is dragging down Republican candidates as the midterm elections draw closer.<\/p>\n

During the forum, and after, Donalds said his campaign\u2019s move to scrub its website of a range of materials highlighting his support for and support from Trump was meaningless. The removal of the Trump material was first reported by the Miami Herald<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"RepublicanRepublican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds greets Shane Strum, president and CEO of both Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, during the Sunshine Economy Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Donalds said his campaign long planned to change its website focus as the general electron approached and said it had nothing to do with Trump\u2019s sagging popularity. As the war in Iran has dragged on, with resulting high gasoline prices, voters are becoming more disenchanted with the president. Donalds said he, too, hopes the war ends soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is kind of the weirdest story I\u2019ve ever seen in this entire political cycle. We were planning to make our website updates, like we planned to for, really two months coming out of the primary,\u201d he said. \u201cNow considering all of the hubbub about the change, I think it\u2019s probably driven a lot of traffic to the website. We\u2019re happy about that, because we want the people of Florida to see our policies in detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the economy the main focus of the day, Donalds said Republicans could be trusted to improve affordability, something shown by the way they\u2019ve operated state government. And he said the national picture is more complicated, asserting that policies of former President Joe Biden, who left office in January 2025, are largely responsible for economic problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cNationally, what we\u2019re having to still work our way out of is the terrible economic conditions from the Biden administration,\u201d Donalds said.<\/p>\n

The two candidates also disagree on the DeSantis legacy.<\/p>\n

Donalds, who has had an uneasy relationship with DeSantis, said he wants to build on what he sees as accomplishments. He said the term-limited governor has created a strong foundation.<\/p>\n

Jolly said he would reverse many DeSantis priorities, starting with vastly different kinds of gubernatorial appointments.<\/p>\n

He said he\u2019d fire DeSantis\u2019 controversial surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who has proposed scaling back required childhood vaccinations. He said he\u2019d bring on an education commissioner who looks out for the needs of teachers as well as students. He said he would change state utility regulators. And he said he would reverse DeSantis\u2019 changes to the state university system to renew emphasis on the state\u2019s economy, not conservative political ideology.<\/p>\n

\"DemocraticDemocratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly greets Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava during the Sunshine Economy Summit in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
\nImmigration<\/p>\n

Donalds said he would continue the state policy of requiring Sheriff\u2019s Offices and police departments to have so-called 287(g) agreements that empower officers and deputies to perform some federal immigration functions.
Donalds said he would review, but did not commit to renewing, the DeSantis emergency orders that have allowed use of state emergency funds for immigration enforcement, including operation of the now-closed detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz.<\/p>\n

He said it might not need to be continued because Congress has appropriated more funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration has already deported many people who had been in the U.S. illegally.<\/p>\n

Donalds said he disagreed with his fellow Republican member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Miami, who recently told Trump some of his immigration enforcement has gone too far. \u201cI disagree with Maria. I think what went too far in this country is when there was no enforcement at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jolly said he would not renew the emergency orders. And Jolly said he would end the state mandate for 287(g) agreements.<\/p>\n

He said Florida residents shouldn\u2019t be denied due process during immigration efforts, which means officers need to show judicial warrants for their actions. And he said requirements that they show their faces and badges are \u201creasonable. That\u2019s what we expect of local law enforcement as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philosophy, priorities<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Florida, we are in a position of being the best state in America. I truly believe that,\u201d Donalds said. \u201cPeople go to a jurisdiction where public policy is at its best. Conversely, people leave a jurisdiction where public policy is at its worst. This is why you\u2019ve seen more Americans move to Florida than any other state in the country\u201d<\/p>\n

Donalds said his \u201cmission is to make sure that Florida remains No. 1 while addressing some of the key issues impacting everybody. Insurance, housing costs, making sure young people can get into the game, not just of home ownership, but having a high-paying job where they can put food on the table and a roof over their head. And that just doesn\u2019t happen by accident. It takes consistent leadership over time to see those things become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jolly offered a more sobering outlook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is I think we\u2019re a nation that\u2019s broken. I think we\u2019re a state that\u2019s broken. You can see it, sure, in a culture that\u2019s more divided than ever before. Our politicians tell us if we hate each other just enough, our lives will get better, and I think it\u2019s wrong\u2026. Whether it is an economy that\u2019s breaking or whether it is a culture that is now more divided than ever before, I do think we all are called to do what\u2019s within reach to try to fix the problems in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there are kind of three values that I\u2019ve always held in my politics. First, the economy should work for everyone. Economic growth is good, but if it\u2019s not working for everybody, it\u2019s not working. Second, we\u2019ll let the private sector lead, but government fills in the gaps,\u201d citing workforce and affordable housing, the insurance market, access to health care, public education, the environment, and safe communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly each promise to deliver a more affordable, prosperous Florida \u2014 but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408717,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[506,558,740,2715,28,29,249,251,250,114,266,5741,5742,115,99,109],"class_list":["post-408716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-lauderdale","tag-broward-county","tag-business","tag-economy","tag-elections","tag-florida","tag-florida-news","tag-fort-lauderdale","tag-fort-lauderdale-headlines","tag-fort-lauderdale-news","tag-latest-headlines","tag-local-news","tag-national-news","tag-national-politics","tag-news","tag-politics","tag-social"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408716\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}