Endorsements and community visits highlight the competition for Black support, while advertising purchases remain an unanswered question.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly are courting Black voters through endorsements, community appearances and organizing efforts, but how much their political operations are spending with Black-owned media remains unverified in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Donalds has secured support from Eatonville Vice Mayor Angela Thomas and Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut, a longtime Democrat. Jolly has assembled a statewide coalition of Black elected officials, religious leaders and policy advisers ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The endorsements show how individual leaders are approaching the governor’s race. Advertising records would help answer a separate question: How much business are the political operations seeking Black votes directing to Black-owned publishers and broadcasters?

Donalds Gains Endorsements

Thomas endorsed Donalds on Oct. 19, the same day Jolly visited Eatonville for a get-out-the-vote event, according to News 6.

“I am honored to have Vice Mayor Angela Thomas’s support,” Donalds wrote in the Facebook statement announcing her endorsement.

“Eatonville’s story of self-governance is one of the proudest in Florida’s history, and her leadership carries that legacy forward today.”

Donalds connected her support to his message about individual freedom and local decision-making.

“That’s the kind of trust in communities I’ll bring to Tallahassee — letting Floridians run their own lives, not Tallahassee,” he wrote.

Chestnut’s endorsement brought a prominent Black Democratic voice into Donalds’ camp. In a statement published by WCJB, she acknowledged policy disagreements with him while defending her decision to cross party lines.

“I want to see a Black governor of Florida in my lifetime,” Chestnut said.

She also encouraged voters to question Donalds directly about public education, property taxes, voting rights and economic opportunity.

Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor if elected. Support from individual officials, however, does not establish a statewide shift among Black voters.

Jolly Builds a Black Leadership Coalition

Jolly’s campaign announced a Black leadership coalition Sept. 10 that includes former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, state Sens. Shevrin Jones and Tracie Davis, former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner and Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers.

The campaign said the group would organize voters, help develop policy and expand community engagement. Jolly’s announced commitments include establishing an office of civil rights, supporting voting rights legislation and opposing restrictions targeting the teaching of Black history.

During his Eatonville visit, Jolly emphasized his responsibility to reach communities throughout Florida.

“Part of running for governor is representing every community across the state,” he told News 6.

A former Republican congressman who later became an independent before joining the Democratic Party, Jolly has made homeowners insurance reform, access to primary health care and public education central campaign issues.

Following the Advertising Dollars

Both political operations have announced substantial advertising efforts.

Florida Politics reported that Friends of Byron Donalds announced a $20 million statewide advertising buy ahead of the August primary. The publication separately reported that Jolly launched a multimillion-dollar statewide advertising effort in September. The announcements cover different periods and political entities and cannot be treated as equivalent spending totals.

Those announcements do not provide a complete accounting of purchases from Black-owned media.

Advertisements aimed at Black voters can run through companies with different ownership structures. Reaching a Black audience does not necessarily mean a campaign purchased advertising from a Black-owned business.

A comparable accounting would identify which Black-owned outlets received payments, how much they received and when. It would include purchases placed through agencies and separate candidate spending from political committee spending.

Without those figures, the available reporting does not establish whether either operation’s investment falls short of a stated commitment or other defined benchmark.

Florida’s Black Media Network

Florida’s established Black press includes The Miami Times in South Florida, the statewide Florida Courier, Daytona Times, The Florida Star in Jacksonville, Florida Sentinel Bulletin in Tampa and The Weekly Challenger in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.

These publications illustrate the geographic reach of the state’s Black press. Their inclusion is not an audience ranking or a finding that they received advertising from either political operation.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association describes the Black press as a source of community news, information and commentary delivered through print and digital platforms.

Why the Spending Question Matters

For voters, the governor’s race involves representation and decisions affecting insurance costs, schools, health care and civil rights. Endorsements provide one perspective on the candidates; their records and proposals provide another.

Advertising disclosure would add a financial measure of outreach. It would show which Black-owned media businesses received campaign purchases and allow readers to compare those payments with each operation’s overall advertising budget.

As Donalds and Jolly compete for Black support, that accounting would help the public evaluate how their spending decisions align with their community engagement.

Florida National News calls on the Donalds and Jolly campaigns and their affiliated political committees to publicly announce their advertising spending with Black-owned media.

The disclosure should identify outlets, amounts paid, spending periods and purchases placed through agencies. Planned purchases should be listed separately from completed payments.

The same disclosure standard should apply to Democratic and Republican political operations seeking Black voters’ support. Advertising purchases must remain independent of editorial coverage and endorsements.

Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane combine for 47 points as Orlando closes preseason with a 21-point victory and turns its attention to the regular-season opener.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Paolo Banchero scored 24 points and Desmond Bane added 23 as the Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 136-115 on Friday night at Kia Center to close their preseason.

Orlando coach Sean Sweeney credited improved transition defense and unselfish offense for helping the Magic settle into the game after Miami’s fast-paced start.

The victory provided encouraging signs heading into the regular season, although players and coaches emphasized that Orlando’s defense remains a work in progress.

Ball Movement, Bane’s Aggressiveness Lift Orlando

Sweeney said the Magic adjusted to Miami’s speed as the game progressed, allowing Orlando to establish its offense.

“Offensively, we did a pretty good job of sharing the ball again — attacking that way,” Sweeney said.

Bane’s willingness to seek perimeter shots also stood out.

“I thought his aggressiveness was great and he’s got to keep building on it,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney said the preseason gave the starters an opportunity to establish a rhythm while learning how to respond to pressure.

“There is definitely some value in that, anytime you face adversity and have to come back it’s important,” he said.

Defense Remains a Priority

Despite the 21-point victory, Desmond Bane said Orlando’s defensive performance fell short of the team’s expectations.

“I think that we did some things well, especially on the offensive end,” Bane said. “But defensively we knew they were going to be playing fast.”

Bane said the Magic needed to do a better job containing the ball.

“We did okay,” he said. “Good enough to win but not to our standard.”

Nikola Vucevic said limiting Miami’s transition opportunities helped Orlando regain control of the pace and establish its preferred style.

“I think once we took care of that, it was much better,” Vucevic said. “Obviously, offensively it was a really good game for us. I think defensively there’s still room to grow.”

Vucevic said learning a new system requires patience, continued work and adjustments.

“We have to continue to work on it step by step, but there’s definitely a lot of positives,” he said.

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives toward the basket against Miami Heat defenders during the preseason finale Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. The Magic won 136-115. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News.

Vucevic, Bitadze Provide Options Inside

Sweeney praised Vucevic and Goga Bitadze for their preseason contributions, pointing to their different strengths at center.

He highlighted Vucevic’s offensive skills, defensive communication and rebounding, along with Bitadze’s work on the boards, spacing and defensive impact.

“They’ve impacted the game in positive ways every time they’ve played,” Sweeney said.

Vucevic also credited the starters with establishing the team’s intensity and said the reserves must maintain that standard.

“I think also for us, coming off the bench, it’s important that we continue and keep up the same level of play,” he said.

Wagner, Richardson, Penda to Be Re-evaluated

Sweeney provided updates on three Magic players following the game.

Jase Richardson experienced back soreness, Noah Penda had right hamstring tightness and Franz Wagner had right shoulder soreness.

“Those guys will be re-evaluated,” Sweeney said.

He did not provide a timetable for their returns.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra speaks with reporters following Miami’s 136-115 preseason loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Florida National News

Spoelstra Sees Progress Despite Loss

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra credited Orlando’s performance while maintaining that the Heat had made meaningful progress during training camp.

“Orlando competed and played very well, particularly those last three quarters,” Spoelstra said. “But these last 20 days have been very productive for our basketball team.”

Spoelstra said improving defensive chemistry remains a priority. He also emphasized that Miami’s depth will influence its rotations throughout the season.

“Our depth is a big strength of ours, and we will be maximizing our depth throughout the course of the season,” he said.

What’s Next for the Orlando Magic?

The Magic open the regular season against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at Kia Center.

Orlando enters the opener looking to build on its offensive execution while improving transition defense, containing dribble penetration and monitoring the three players awaiting re-evaluation.

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Staff: Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com | Harry Castiblanco, Photographer

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

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