Gov. Ron DeSantis has openly challenged Florida GOP Chair Evan Power's decision to prevent direct debates between gubernatorial candidates at the party's upcoming Sunshine Showdown event. The conflict centers on the Republican Party of Florida's debate eligibility requirements, which mandate that candidates achieve 10 percent support in the party's internal polling, raise more than $10 million, and secure donations from more than 10,000 contributors. Power announced on X that candidates would be permitted to speak at the event but would not be allowed to directly engage each other in debates.
DeSantis responded directly to Power's announcement with a sharp public criticism. He argued that Power should not insult the intelligence of Republican voters by using what he called ridiculous criteria to break a debate promise and manipulate the outcome in favor of a preferred candidate. DeSantis questioned why the party would not simply allocate 90 minutes, secure a television partner, and allow candidates to debate each other directly. He suggested that the only logical explanation for refusing such debates would be if party leadership prioritized outside interests over the welfare of voters. During a Friday press conference, DeSantis elaborated on his position, stating that the party should play only a limited role in the gubernatorial race. He emphasized that the process should be driven by candidates themselves rather than decided by unelected party officials. He encouraged candidates to arrange debates through television, radio, and other available formats.
Other Republican figures have echoed DeSantis's criticism. Jay Collins retweeted the governor's statement and reinforced his argument against insulting voter intelligence. While Collins acknowledged that debates alone would not determine the race's outcome, he called on voters to notice if Byron Donalds declines to participate in debates and instead remains sheltered by the Republican Party of Florida. James Fishback also expressed agreement with DeSantis's position. Former House Speaker Paul Renner questioned whether the Florida GOP had become indistinguishable from the Democratic Party in light of the debate restrictions.
The dispute reflects ongoing tension between DeSantis and Congressman Donalds. DeSantis has repeatedly criticized Donalds over recent months, contending that the Trump-aligned congressman provided no support for battles DeSantis led in recent years. Despite the governor's public criticism and the debate controversy surrounding his candidacy, Donalds has stated he remains unconcerned about the situation. The conflict underscores how the gubernatorial race on the Republican side, despite being heavily favored to one candidate, continues to generate internal party friction.