Jenna Ellis, the conservative lawyer who was a member of Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign’s legal team, criticized Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) as he campaigns to replace Ron DeSantis and become Florida’s next governor.
Donalds, who has refused to debate the other GOP candidates before the Republican primary on August 18, on Monday challenged the leading Democratic candidate, former Republican Florida U.S. Representative David Jolly, to three debates.
Ellis responded to Donalds’ announcement: “The GOP needs to stop this now. You can’t just blow past the primary voters. I really wish Florida would teach Byron and the rest of the arrogant egos a big lesson on August 18.”
The GOP needs to stop this now.
You can’t just blow past the primary voters.
I really wish Florida would teach Byron and the rest of the arrogant egos a big lesson on August 18. https://t.co/7qzRQlxp1P
— Jenna Ellis
(@realJennaEllis) July 20, 2026
Ellis also complained specifically about the Republican Party of Florida in the comments. She suggested that the party won’t do anything “until the voters make them.” She added, “I wish every Florida voter understood the stakes here and not just what they see on Fox News.”
Another conservative, noting that Donalds’ strategy has a successful precedent, wrote: “Byron is doing the same thing Trump did during 2024. Skip the primary debates and then be all about debating after the primary. I didn’t agree when Trump did it and I don’t agree with it now with Byron.”
[NOTE: Jolly responded to Donalds’ challenge on social media: “Get through your primary and we’ll talk.” GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback also replied to Donalds: “You’re in *no position* to challenge anyone to a debate after you refuse to show up to the @PatrickBetDavid debate.” Republican Lt. Governor Jay Collins, who is running with Governor DeSantis’s endorsement, replied to Donalds: “This is cute” with a chicken emoji.]