The Florida Republican Party has announced the date for two congressional debates to be held later this month, generating pushback from term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Republican candidates over its refusal to host a gubernatorial debate.
Florida GOP officials decided on Friday they would not host a debate before the gubernatorial primary on Aug. 18 because Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who’s running for governor, was the only candidate who met the state party’s internal qualification criteria based on polls and fundraising.
DeSantis has led the charge in criticizing the Florida GOP’s decision not to host a gubernatorial debate. On Tuesday, he took aim at his party again.
“What a farce,” he said of the party’s plan to proceed with two congressional debates.
The first debate will be for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, and the second debate will feature candidates running for the state’s 25th Congressional District. Ola Hawatmeh and Madison Cawthorn are confirmed participants for the former, and the same was true of George Moraitis and Scott Singer for the latter. Other candidates in those respective GOP primary races have also been invited.
The debates will occur on June 27 during the Sunshine State Showdown event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Donalds has refused to debate ahead of the gubernatorial primary, prompting backlash from his fellow opponents. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R-FL) called out Donalds for his stance on a debate, highlighting his own petition that would ideally force the congressman to agree to a debate. So far, the petition has gathered over 1,800 signatures from Florida residents.
James Fishback did not immediately comment on social media about the Florida GOP’s announcement to hold congressional debates over a gubernatorial one, but he has been very critical of Donalds for declining to debate.
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Fishback has been urging his opponent to agree to an official CBS News debate on July 15 in Jacksonville. This debate option caused a rift between Fishback and the Florida GOP, which rescinded his invitation to the Sunshine State Showdown late last week. The state party has called the candidate’s debate offer “unsanctioned.”
Donalds, who is by far the definitive primary front-runner, is 46 points ahead of Fishback in the latest poll. The House Republican has been endorsed by President Donald Trump but not by DeSantis.