{"id":2614699,"date":"2026-06-16T15:14:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-roiled-over-refusal-to-hold-gubernatorial-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:17:17","slug":"florida-gop-roiled-over-refusal-to-hold-gubernatorial-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-roiled-over-refusal-to-hold-gubernatorial-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida GOP roiled over refusal to hold gubernatorial debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-gop-roiled-over-refusal-to-hold-gubernatorial-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614699&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Florida Republican Party announced the dates for two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-agencies-routinely-spy-on-phone-calls-texts-emails-of-american-citizens-experts-say\/\" title=\"US agencies regularly monitor US citizens&#039; phone calls, texts, and emails, according to experts.\">congressional debates<\/a> later this month, prompting criticism from Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican candidates due to its decision not to hold a gubernatorial debate. The party declined to host a gubernatorial debate before the August 18 primary as only Rep. Byron Donalds met the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >qualification criteria based<\/a> on polls and fundraising, leading DeSantis to condemn the move as a &#8220;farce.&#8221; The scheduled congressional debates will focus on Florida\u2019s 19th and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/police-hunting-for-boy-as-young-as-10-suspected-of-committing-multiple-armed-crimes\/\" title=\"Police Hunting for Boy as Young as 10 Suspected of Committing Multiple Armed Crimes\">25th districts<\/a> and take place on June 27 at the Sunshine State Showdown event. Donalds has refused to participate in debates ahead of the gubernatorial primary, drawing criticism from opponents and attention from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who has launched a petition to compel Donalds to debate, gathering over 1,800 signatures. james Fishback, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nc-dem-senate-challenger-votes-against-bipartisan-school-reopening-bill\/\" title=\"NC Dem Senate Challenger Votes Against Bipartisan School Reopening Bill\">primary candidate<\/a>, has criticized Donalds for declining debates and has advocated for a formal CBS News debate scheduled for July 15 in Jacksonville, though the Florida GOP rescinded his invitation, deeming it &#8220;unsanctioned.&#8221; Donalds remains the leading candidate, with a notable polling lead and endorsements from President Donald Trump, although not from desantis.The controversy highlights tensions within Florida\u2019s Republican primary race and ongoing disagreements over debate strategies and candidate participation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> Republican Party has announced the date for two congressional <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/debates\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"45\">debates<\/a> to be held later this month, generating pushback from term-limited Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"575\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) and Republican candidates over its refusal to host a gubernatorial debate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Florida GOP officials decided on Friday they would not host a debate before the gubernatorial primary on Aug. 18 because Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-donalds\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"6250\">Byron Donalds<\/a> (R-FL), who\u2019s running for governor, was the only candidate who met the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cheney-says-she-wont-step-down-after-state-party-censures-her-calls-for-resignation\/\" title=\"Cheney Says She Won...t Step Down After State ... Censures Her, Calls For Resignation\">state party\u2019<\/a>s internal qualification criteria based on polls and fundraising.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4608529\/dc-mayoral-race-mamdani-style-politics-janeese-lewis-george-kenyan-mcduffie\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DC mayoral race tests demand for Mamdani-style politics against establishment figure<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4609605\/eleanor-holmes-norton-replacement-dc-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Who might replace Eleanor Holmes Norton as DC voters choose a younger, more combative delegate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4609668\/donald-trump-jr-georgia-rick-jackson-praise-not-endorsement\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Don Jr. backtracks after post praising Trump endorsee\u2019s rival: \u2018Not an endorsement\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis has led the charge in criticizing the Florida GOP\u2019s decision not to host a gubernatorial debate. On Tuesday, he took aim at his party again.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat a farce,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RonDeSantis\/status\/2066921751913611536\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RonDeSantis\/status\/2066921751913611536\">said<\/a> of the party\u2019s plan to proceed with two congressional debates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first debate will be for Florida\u2019s 19th Congressional District, and the second debate will feature candidates running for the state\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The debates will occur on June 27 during the Sunshine State Showdown event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecollinscallout.com\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.thecollinscallout.com\/\">own petition<\/a> that would ideally force the congressman to agree to a debate. So far, the petition has gathered over 1,800 signatures from Florida residents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James Fishback did not immediately comment on social media about the Florida GOP\u2019s announcement to hold congressional debates over a gubernatorial one, but he has been very critical of Donalds for declining to debate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/4608720\/florida-sues-tiktok-violating-state-law-restricting-minors-platform\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/4608720\/florida-sues-tiktok-violating-state-law-restricting-minors-platform\/\">FLORIDA SUES TIKTOK FOR VIOLATING STATE LAW RESTRICTING MINORS\u2019 ACCESS TO PLATFORM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s debate offer \u201cunsanctioned.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donalds, who is by far the definitive primary front-runner, is 46 points ahead of Fishback in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.270towin.com\/2026-governor-polls\/florida\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.270towin.com\/2026-governor-polls\/florida\">latest poll<\/a>. The House Republican has been endorsed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> but not by DeSantis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida GOP sets debates; DeSantis opposes gubernatorial debate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2614700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25226503706343.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34059,5113,6203,63821,36160],"class_list":["post-2614699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-2024","tag-florida","tag-gop","tag-gubernatorial-debate","tag-political-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25226503706343.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614699"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614703,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614699\/revisions\/2614703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}