Republican representative Byron Donalds has removed most references to President Donald Trump from the main page of his campaign for the governorship of Florida, a support he had prominently showcased during the primaries.
The changes included the removal of eight references to Trump's support, a photograph showing Donalds and his wife alongside the president, and a section titled "Implementing Trump's Agenda," according to a report by the Miami Herald.
The presidential backing did not completely disappear from the site. It now appears on a secondary page dedicated to the support received by the candidate, alongside other leaders and conservative organizations.
Donald's campaign denied that the redesign reflects a distancing from Trump and asserted that it aims to focus the message on the concerns of Florida voters.
"The website reflects Byron's focus on the issues that matter most to Floridians: affordability, insurance costs, and government transparency," stated his spokesperson, Gates McGavick.
The change is significant due to Trump's prominent role during Donalds' campaign to secure the Republican nomination.
In May, Trump reaffirmed his "full and total" support for Donalds and called him a "TOTAL WINNER" on Truth Social. The congressman then responded that he was "incredibly honored" to have the presidential support.
Donalds concluded winning the Republican primaries in August with nearly 48% of the votes and is now facing former Congressman David Jolly, the Democratic candidate, in the elections on November 3rd.
A tighter race in Florida
The modification of the website occurs when some analyses and surveys indicate a more competitive race.
The electoral analysis site Sabato's Crystal Ball changed its classification of the race on Tuesday from "probably Republican" to "leans Republican."
A survey by St. Pete Polls placed Donalds at 43.5% and Jolly at 43.4%, while another poll by Change Research recorded 47% for Jolly and 44% for Donalds.
These figures are snapshots of specific moments in the campaign and are subject to their respective margins of error and methodologies.
The decision to reduce Trump's presence is not exclusive to Donalds. The Washington Post identified at least seven Republican candidates for the House of Representatives in competitive districts who have reduced or eliminated references to the president from their campaign pages.
The change also coincides with a decline in Trump's national approval ratings. A recent Reuters/Ipsos placed his approval at 32% among American adults, while among Republicans it dropped from 82% to 73%.
The campaign is now entering its final phase without a debate among the main candidates. Jolly ruled out debating with Donalds this week, arguing that there are "repeated lies" and "bad faith" on the part of the Republican campaign.
The governorship is open because Ron DeSantis cannot run for another consecutive term. Republicans have held the position since 1999.
If he wins the elections on November 3, Donalds would become the first African American governor of Florida.
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