“I want to see a Black governor of Florida in my lifetime”: Prominent local Democrat endorses Republican Byron Donalds
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, a Democrat, has endorsed Republican Byron Donalds for Florida Governor.
Donalds wrote, “Proud to have the endorsement of Cynthia Moore Chestnut, a longtime public servant who has represented her community at the city, county, and state levels. I’m honored to have her support as our movement continues to grow across Florida!”
In response to widespread criticism on social media, Chestnut wrote, “Much has been made of my endorsement yesterday of Byron Donalds. Let me be clear: I am a Black Democrat, and I am not confused about who I am or what I believe. I believe in the power of our people, the sacred value of our vote, and the responsibility to speak truth even when it makes others uncomfortable. My endorsement of Byron Donalds is not a betrayal of my values; it is a declaration that Black voters are not political property. We are not to be taken for granted, spoken to only during election season, or expected to fall in line while our concerns are ignored.”
Chestnut’s post continued, “When the Democratic ticket had the opportunity to reflect the full strength, talent, and diversity of Florida, it failed to do so. There were qualified Black women, Black men, Hispanic women, and Hispanic men who deserved serious consideration. Instead, the decision sent a painful message that too many of us know all too well: our votes are welcome, and even expected, but our leadership is negotiable. I refuse to accept that. Representation is not window dressing. It is respect. It is recognition. It is power. And when that power is overlooked, we have every right to call it out.”
Chestnut added, “That is why I am supporting Byron Donalds. I want to see a Black governor of Florida in my lifetime, and I will not apologize for saying so. I do not have to agree with every vote he has taken or political decision he has made to believe that he deserves to be heard, questioned, challenged, and engaged.”
Chestnut urged “our community” to have “hard conversations” with Donalds and said her endorsement was “personal, principled, and unapologetic,” citing Donalds’ support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their “shared cultural ties through his Jamaican and Panamanian family background.”
Chestnut wrote that she is still a Democrat, but “I simply have stopped accepting the idea that my party label should silence my judgment.”
The post attracted many comments, with some congratulating her for her courage and others finding the endorsement disappointing or characterizing it as a betrayal; several people said they could not believe the post was real, and a few said Chestnut’s account must have been hacked.
See….it’s ALL about race with some of these people. Nothing will change with your culture until you give up the race card (crutch).
I hate to say this, but this endorsement by Cynthia Chestnut, Gainesville City Commissioner, is an albatross around Byron Donalds neck. Her “reasoning” for endorsing Donalds is nothing more than a racist rant. Does she forget Florida Democrats nominated Andrew Gillum for Governor? Was his “blackness” any cause for celebration? NO! He was a man of despicably low moral character. I did not vote for Byron Donalds in the primary because I don’t fully trust his conservative credentials – same reasons I never voted for Trump in a primary. Lets remember that during George Floyd and the BLM aftermath, Byron Donalds made some very questionable statements. But the world being what it is, conservatives have no choice but to vote for Donalds. Voting for Jolly would lead to even worse transgressions.
Byron Donalds is a puppet which is why true party debates were stifled and why the party pushed him thru with millions in TV propaganda and major party endorsements (ie Trump but not DeSantis). He a big government guy. A really big government type of guy. This is obvious to anyone who doesn’t eat propaganda from the mainstream media. Read about his positions. He is an establishment dweller. And he’ll be the next governor. Shame on the Republican Party for running a sham primary and for placing this puppet in this position. The Republican Party is pathetic and it only looks slightly decent today because the democrat party is astronomically retarded.
And shame on a locally elected official for solely endorsing someone because of their skin color. Shallow, racist, idiot woman.
We live in a real life Demolition Man, where “Now all restaurants are Taco Bell”.
This is a sad commentary on our elected politicians who lose their values so easily. This has been going on for as long as I remember. I remember my mom was disgusted when some of her friends voted for John F Kennedy, because they thought he was good looking. Women voted for Hillary Clinton, just because she was a woman. Black people voted for Obama, just because he was black. This woman is voting for Byron Donalds, just because he is black. I don’t care whether you are “red, yellow, black or white”, woman or man. I vote for my values and what I believe in. I wish everyone would do that.
Interesting……
as a 70 year-old white male lifelong republican I’m voting for Byron Donald’s not because he’s black but because I feel he will do the best for the state of Florida. At least he knows the difference between a man and woman and he support my Belief that men should not be in women’s sports and he would like to see property tax done away with he’s pro law-law-enforcement, and will keep going direction at the state of Florida is currently going
If you think he will keep going in the direction that the state is currently going why do you think DeSantis refused to endorse him? Even after the GOP rammed him thru DeSantis refused to endorse him. The national GOP took change of this primary and forced this pawn into this position at the detriment of the state. Please read about him…he is an open proponent for big government. He loves data centers which means he loves surveillance. And no, I’m not in support of any democrat candidate either…I’m just being honest about the guy.
More people need to come to terms with the fact that elections are stolen during primaries. This is why both party’s run complete trash candidates in the general election 90% of the time…This includes Byron Donald and the Dem puppet. This is also why the two party scheme and their loyal followers refuse to allow open primary elections in Florida.
Byron Donald’s continues to promote the lie that Covid originated from a janky Chinese lab and it was all Fauci’s fault. Yes, Fauci should be pistol whipped…I agree. But anyone with eyes to see knows Covid was a complete hoax and the US DOD ran the entire pre planned “vaccine” operation. Countless researchers have documented this.
He’s a plant. And a pathetic one.
Gov. DeSantis endorses fellow Republican Byron Donalds for governor
DeSantis and Donalds appeared on stage together at the Florida GOP Leadership Forum in Tampa Tuesday night, with the outgoing governor introducing Donalds and the other 2026 Republican candidates as “our winning Republican ticket.”
You may wanna get your facts straight before you reply to comments
That was after the primary election! This endorsement was a few days ago. This is my point. Read my comment above again. DeSantis was not fond of this guy at all until he was installed by the GOP during the primaries.
Obviously DeSantis is going to endorse his replacement now.
No racism here 😂
The ACLUSPLCDNC Party has taken Black citizens for granted too long.
Agreed
Who cares, Queen Cynthia!
Wasn’t expecting this, but not surprised.
Mrs. Chestnut – Your endorsement is appreciated but allow me to ask you WHY race alone seems to be the criteria, Ma’am. You continue to judge based on skin color Mrs. chestnut rather than who can deliver and who is qualified. Please elaborate if you can.
Any Blacks supporting the Republican party after it’s recent replay of Jim Crow’s greatest hits by trying to remove any southern black elected representatives from Congress is at best an Uncle Tom and at worst a traitor spitting in the face of MLK, John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall, and all the black and white Union soldiers who died to end slavery and make blacks full citizens of the US. That includes Donalds (elected in a district with 6% black population) and now Chestnut. One can be a principled black conservative, but disenfranchising other blacks based on their race is not principled. How Donald’s faces his own children is a mystery to me, while Chesnut is supporting him for no other reason than the literal color of his skin – that’s it!
I’m no hero, but going to school here in the mid 1960s, I was part of the civil rights movement before the CR Act of 1964 which ended the segregation of restaurants, hotels, and other public accomodations which was enforced here and throughout the Florida I grew up in. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 followed which made illegal what the Republicans are doing now with their racist redistricting. Chestnut and Donald are shaming their ancestors by their tacit acceptance and endorsement of this step backward. They should both be condemned.
Jazzman only likes black people when they vote democrat.
What did Donalds promise her? A state position or maybe pardon for her son?