Sarasota got the first stop of Florida’s governor’s race closing stretch this week. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for governor, launched his “Defending the Florida Dream” bus tour Thursday morning at Yoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village on Bahia Vista Street, appearing alongside Attorney General James Uthmeier. Donalds faces Democrat David Jolly on the November 3 ballot, and with early in-person voting ending October 31, the timing of the Sarasota kickoff was no accident.
Donalds told the crowd his campaign is built around backing law enforcement, smart policy, and making sure children have the opportunity to succeed. He also focused on small business owners and seniors enjoying their retirement in Florida, themes that resonate in a region full of retirees, snowbirds, and locally owned shops. Uthmeier, who is running for re-election against Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez, reinforced the law enforcement and education message. One voter at the stop said Donalds is “not bashing anybody, working on the positive.”
The tour continues to Pasco County with Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and CFO Blaise Ingoglia, then heads to Polk and Highlands counties, including an afternoon stop at the Old Polk County Courthouse with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. With the election two weeks out and early voting closing October 31, the final arguments are now in front of Suncoast voters. Have you made up your mind yet, or are you still weighing the candidates? Let us know in the comments.
