Trump-backed Byron Donalds says Floridians are sending a clear message as he promises to keep the Sunshine State on its current path
Florida – Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds says voters across the Sunshine State are delivering a simple message as the race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis begins to take shape: they want Florida to stay on the course it has followed in recent years.
Speaking in an interview, the Republican congressman argued that residents are not looking for dramatic political changes. Instead, he said many Floridians want to preserve the policies and identity that have helped make the state attractive to businesses, families, and newcomers from around the country.
Donalds, who has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump and currently leads his Republican primary rivals, said preserving Florida’s direction would be a central focus of his campaign.
According to Donalds, voters consistently tell him they want the state to remain “the free state of Florida.” He said that sentiment reflects a broader desire to protect Florida’s current character while addressing the practical challenges that residents face every day.
“The number one thing they’re focused on, like I said, they want Florida to remain Florida,” he said. “Everybody loves our state, we’re the best state in America. They want that to continue.”
While cultural and political issues remain important in the state, Donalds suggested that affordability concerns are increasingly dominating conversations with voters.
Affordability Takes Center Stage
As Florida continues to experience rapid growth, many residents have faced rising costs for housing, insurance, healthcare, and other necessities. Donalds said those concerns are becoming some of the most important issues in the governor’s race.
“When you get to those kitchen table issues, it’s about affordability, and it’s no doubt about that. And so we need to examine every aspect of our government and every aspect of Florida and find ways to drive down costs,” he said.
One proposal Donalds highlighted focuses on healthcare transparency. He argued that consumers often struggle to understand the true cost of medical services before receiving treatment.
“When it comes to health care, we’ve proposed our Your Doctor, Your Price plan, which means that the top 20 services at every physician’s office at every hospital, those top 20 services, we want to post a real cash price, so people can actually compare and see what it costs to get an MRI down the street or an MRI at the local hospital,” Donalds said.
He believes that allowing patients to compare prices more easily could create greater competition and ultimately reduce costs.
“We believe that’s going to help. That transparency is going to help down costs,” the congressman explained.
Property Taxes, Housing and Growth
Donalds also voiced support for a property tax amendment scheduled to appear before Florida voters this November. He indicated that even if the measure fails, he would continue pursuing similar reforms if elected governor.
Beyond taxes, he pointed to housing affordability as another major challenge facing the state. According to Donalds, government regulations and permitting requirements contribute significantly to rising construction costs.
“Because thirty percent of the cost of a new home is government permitting costs. We got to shrink that number down, so that people can build homes affordably in Florida, so they can chase the Florida dream for themselves, the way I was able to chase it my life,” he said.
He also previewed possible changes to state regulatory systems, insurance policies, and permitting processes as part of a broader effort to lower expenses for residents.
The discussion comes as Florida continues to attract new residents from across the country. Population growth has boosted economic activity but has also increased pressure on housing markets, roads, schools, and other infrastructure.
Rather than trying to slow that growth, Donalds argued that Florida should prepare for it while protecting the state’s natural appeal.
“Growth is coming to Florida because we run a great state. It’s based on common sense conservatism, so and people are going to come. We just want to make sure that we balance that new growth with the beauty of Florida and do all the necessary infrastructure improvement,” Donalds said.
He stressed that maintaining residents’ quality of life must remain a priority as the population expands.
“It’s the people’s quality of life and their transportation timelines are easy to get around our state, so they can enjoy the beauty of Florida.”
As the campaign to replace DeSantis continues, Donalds is presenting himself as a candidate focused on preserving Florida’s current political direction while tackling issues that directly affect household budgets. With affordability, housing, healthcare, and infrastructure expected to remain major concerns, those topics are likely to play a central role in the race over the coming months.
