Cynthia Chestnut Endorses Byron Donalds | Gainesville News

City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut stunned political circles this week by endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds — not as a party switch, but as a bold statement that Black voters deserve more than token representation. Though she doesn’t agree with all of Donalds’ policies, Chestnut criticized the Democratic Party for failing to nominate qualified Black and Hispanic candidates for governor, especially after decades of waiting for a Black governor in Florida. She highlighted shared roots — both attended FAMU — and Donalds’ support for HBCUs as key factors. This isn’t a renunciation of her Democratic identity, but a principled call for leadership that reflects Florida’s diversity — where votes are welcome, but leadership can’t be negotiable. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/817e32b7feb4efde