Angie Nixon Says Black Republican Byron Donalds “Doesn’t Support Black People”
Florida’s 2026 races are proving more competitive than expected, with Democrats challenging Republicans in contests for governor and the Senate. Jacksonville legislator Angie Nixon has accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds of not supporting Black people, escalating an already heated campaign.
In an upcoming interview, Nixon cites Donalds’ past remarks about Black people being better off during the Jim Crow era. Donalds is seeking support from Black voters and could become Florida’s first Black governor, but he has struggled to win broad backing from them. Nixon says polling in her Senate race against incumbent Ashley Moody ranges from a tie to her trailing by seven points; Florida last elected a Democratic governor in 1994 and backed Donald Trump by 13 points in 2024.
- Angie Nixon says Byron Donalds does not support Black people.
- She points to his remarks about the Jim Crow era.
- Florida’s 2026 races appear more competitive than expected.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Nixon’s criticism can be understood as a challenge to whether Donalds’ record and remarks show sufficient regard for the history and present concerns of Black Floridians. A candidate’s identity alone does not establish that they support a community, and voters can reasonably scrutinise his policies and public statements when judging his appeal to them.
The case against
Donalds’ defenders could argue that a disputed or controversial remark should be assessed in context alongside his wider record and policy positions, rather than treated as proof that he does not support Black people. They may also argue that Black voters, like any voters, should be free to judge a candidate by his proposals and actions, not by expectations attached to his race or party.