Florida Commissioners Endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor

Haines City Commissioner Anne Huffman and Gainesville's Cynthia Chestnut have both backed Byron Donalds' bid.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Elections

Florida Commissioners Endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor

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Haines City Commissioner Anne Huffman and Gainesville Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut have endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor of Florida. The endorsements follow a series of campaign events across the state, including town halls at Florida A&M University.

Why it matters

The support from Democratic local officials highlights potential shifts in voting coalitions for the upcoming gubernatorial election. Donalds has stated a focus on special needs care, signaling an effort to appeal to a broad range of voters.

A St. Pete Polls survey shows Donalds polling at 16% with Black voters, while a Stetson University poll places that figure at 25%. Donalds maintains a significant fundraising advantage with $44 million on hand versus $6.3 million for David Jolly.

The players

Byron Donalds

He is a candidate for Governor of Florida who recently held a town hall at Florida A&M University.

Anne Huffman

She serves as a Haines City Commissioner and is a registered Democrat who endorsed Byron Donalds.

Cynthia Chestnut

She is a Gainesville Commissioner who announced her endorsement of Byron Donalds on Sept. 4.

David Jolly

He is a candidate for Governor of Florida scheduled to hold a town hall event at Florida A&M University.

Horace West

He was the opponent defeated by Anne Huffman in the April 2025 Haines City runoff election.

The details

Anne Huffman, who was first elected to the Haines City Commission in 2017 and won a 2025 runoff against Horace West, stated that Donalds shares her values regarding local government and special needs advocacy. Cynthia Chestnut joined the list of supporters on Sept. 4, adding further local Democratic backing to the Republican candidate's campaign.

Anne Huffman was first elected to the Haines City Commission in 2017.
Anne Huffman won a runoff election in 2021 by 28 votes.
Anne Huffman won a runoff election over Horace West in April 2025.
Cynthia Chestnut endorsed Byron Donalds on Sept. 4, 2026.
David Jolly will hold a town hall at Florida A&M University on Oct. 12, 2026.

Political Context

These endorsements highlight a departure from the 2018 Florida Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, where Andrew Gillum and Gwen Graham captured a combined 65% of the primary vote. The current campaign dynamics reflect shifts in traditional party alignments at the local level.

Voters should be aware that gubernatorial candidates are currently focusing on specific policy issues, such as special needs care, which could influence future state funding and service accessibility. These developments may impact how local residents evaluate candidates based on their stated commitments to municipal government.

The takeaway

The crossing of party lines by local commissioners indicates that campaign messaging on specific community issues is gaining traction beyond traditional partisan boundaries. Residents should monitor candidate town halls for concrete policy details that could affect their local government interactions.