Donalds Tells Newsmax the Daytona Beach Rally Energized Florida Republicans, and Pitches Lower Insurance and Property Taxes
Rep. Byron Donalds, running to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, told Newsmax on Saturday that Friday's packed Daytona Beach rally with President Donald Trump showed Florida voters are 'alive and well' — and he put a 20% cut in insurance premiums and an end to homestead property taxes at the center of his pitch.
Florida's race for governor took the national airwaves on Saturday. Rep. Byron Donalds told Newsmax that President Donald Trump's Friday night rally in Daytona Beach energized Republican voters ahead of Tuesday's elections. "It was packed out last night. Great energy. It was fantastic, really demonstrating that Florida voters are alive and well," Donalds said on Newsmax's "Saturday Report." "They're going to get out to the polls on Tuesday, and we expect to win the race for governor here in the Sunshine State." Donalds is seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Affordability, Donalds said, is the issue on Florida voters' minds, and he laid out his plans to reduce housing costs, insurance premiums and property taxes. "Governor DeSantis has done a great job leading Florida. We're going to build on that success, but we also have to lower costs," he said. "Affordability is the top issue on everybody's mind. We have a plan to lower insurance premiums 20% in the state of Florida. We want to lower property taxes, eliminate homestead property taxes for the people of our state." Those are live questions for Orlando homeowners as well: Florida voters are deciding a much larger homestead exemption on Tuesday's ballot, in Amendment 3.
Donalds also attacked his Democratic opponent, former Republican congressman David Jolly, accusing him of abandoning his previous positions — "David Jolly is a fraud," he said — and predicted that Republican Sen. Ashley Moody would defeat Democratic challenger Angie Nixon. "Ashley Moody is going to win on Tuesday. We're going to say no to the DSA. We're also going to say no to the craziness of the Democrat Party," he said. He closed by urging Republicans to vote Tuesday to keep the governorship, the Legislature and Congress. Florida voters in Orange County can still vote early through Sunday, November 1, before Election Day on Tuesday.
