With about a month until voters settle their hotly contested race, gubernatorial hopefuls Byron Donalds and David Jolly crisscrossed the state Saturday — with both ending up at a black-tie gala in Orlando.
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However, the two — who aren’t slated to debate ahead of Election Day — didn’t cross paths at Onyx Magazine’s Men of Honor Gala at Rosen Centre Hotel. But both shook hands with movers and shakers among the hundreds of attendees — ranging from elected officials and CEOs to high school teen mentees receiving scholarships.
The gala is apolitical, Onyx Magazine publisher Rich Black said, and draws power brokers from across the political spectrum, as well as from business, education and government. But it marked the first time guests could recall such high-profile attendees — especially in the final month of a bruising campaign.
In brief interviews, Donalds and Jolly said they believe they’re winning the race — one polls show is close ahead of Nov. 3.
“We’re winning,” said the Republican Donalds, who earlier in the day held events in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. “We’re working every single day. We’re doing six, seven, sometimes eight events in a day.”
Jolly, who arrived later after campaigning in Pinellas and Sarasota, believes his campaign has the upper hand.
“I think tonight we’re probably up just a little bit, we’ve got to put in the work to get through Nov. 3, but I think change is here,” he said.
The two men don’t agree on much — but both said it was important to show their support for an organization focused on youth mentorship and empowerment.
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Black said this week that their attendance shows the importance of Black voters to their chances of winning.
“We’re just really amazed that all of this has happened this year,” he said. “This will probably be the last big gathering that David Jolly and Byron Donalds will be at that is a cross-section of the community — which is also male-oriented.”
Donalds arrived at the start of the reception, shaking hands and taking photos with attendees for close to an hour before doors opened to the ballroom for dinner.
About 45 minutes later, Jolly appeared before dinner was served, circling the venue to meet and take photos with his supporters. He was called on stage, along with others who sponsored the gathering, receiving a loud ovation when mentioned by name.
Onyx, which has been published for 29 years, uses the gala to honor men for their leadership and impacts on their communities.
Beyond top political contenders, the star-studded event honored Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings with a lifetime achievement award for his trailblazing career. Demings was Orlando’s first Black police chief and the county’s first Black sheriff and mayor.
Demings, who leaves office at the end of the year, made a run for governor but ended his campaign before the Democratic primary after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
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Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun was awarded the Man of the Year designation.