Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-25TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida governor’s race is heating up, and Congressman Byron Donalds is not letting the Democratic frontrunner, former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, forget what she said eight years ago.
In a scathing statement released Tuesday afternoon, Donalds called out Graham for what he described as a “complete 180” on energy policy, pointing to a 2016 interview in which Graham explicitly supported hydraulic fracturing and the expansion of natural gas pipelines in the Sunshine State. The video, which resurfaced on social media over the weekend, shows Graham telling a local Pensacola news outlet that fracking is “a proven technology that creates jobs and keeps energy affordable for Florida families.”
Fast forward to 2026, and Graham’s campaign website now calls for a “full moratorium on new fracking permits” and pledges to “stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure.” Donalds, a staunch free-market conservative and ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, did not mince words.
“Gwen Graham is telling Floridians whatever she thinks they want to hear, depending on the year and the audience,” Donalds said in a statement. “In 2016, she was for energy independence and jobs. Now she’s for bans and bureaucracy. That’s not leadership. That’s a complete 180 driven by political convenience, not conviction.”
The controversy comes at a critical moment. Recent polling from the University of North Florida shows the race tightening, with Donalds leading Graham by just 3.2 points — within the margin of error. The same poll indicates that 58% of likely voters consider “consistency on policy” a very important factor in their decision.
Graham’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but her team released a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter) calling the resurfaced clip a “cherry-picked moment from a decade ago” and arguing that “Floridians know Gwen has always fought for clean water and a healthy environment.” That response, however, has drawn further scrutiny from political analysts, who note that Graham’s 2016 remarks were not a single offhand comment but part of a broader interview where she defended the economic benefits of energy extraction.
Why This Matters for Florida
Florida’s economy is heavily dependent on affordable energy. The state’s tourism, agriculture, and construction sectors rely on stable fuel prices. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Florida consumed over 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2025, much of it used for electricity generation. A sudden moratorium on fracking — which currently accounts for roughly 60% of domestic natural gas production — could increase energy costs for Florida families and businesses.
Donalds, who has made energy independence a cornerstone of his campaign, argues that Graham’s flip-flop reveals a deeper problem: Democrats’ increasing reliance on progressive environmental groups that demand ideological purity over practical solutions. “If you supported fracking in 2016, you understood that it reduced emissions by replacing coal and kept electricity bills low for retirees,” Donalds said. “Now she’s pandering to activists who don’t care if your air conditioner works in July.”
FORTIS Analysis: A Pattern of Convenience
This is not the first time Graham has shifted positions. In 2014, she ran for Congress as a moderate Democrat, emphasizing her willingness to work with Republicans on infrastructure and veterans’ issues. By 2018, during her failed gubernatorial primary bid, she had moved left, embracing a single-payer health care study and calling for stricter gun controls. Now, in 2026, her platform includes a wealth tax proposal and a ban on new charter schools — both positions she did not advocate for during her time in the House.
From a free-market perspective, the issue is not simply one of political inconsistency. It is about the economic cost of policy volatility. When candidates promise one thing to primary voters and another to general election voters, they create uncertainty for investors and job creators. Florida has enjoyed a business-friendly environment under Governor DeSantis, with GDP growth outpacing the national average in four of the last five years. A Graham administration, if it follows through on her current platform, would likely reverse key deregulatory measures, particularly in housing and energy.
Counterpoint: Graham’s Defenders Push Back
Not everyone agrees with Donalds’ characterization. Progressive advocacy group Florida Rising issued a statement accusing Donalds of “distracting from real issues like insurance rates and housing costs.” They argue that people can evolve on policy as new scientific data emerges, and that Graham’s current position reflects a genuine concern about groundwater contamination.
“Voters are smart enough to know that someone can learn and change their mind,” said a spokesperson for the group. “Gwen Graham is listening to scientists and community members, not oil lobbyists.”
That argument, however, cuts both ways. If Graham’s 2016 support for fracking was based on the best available data at the time, why should voters trust that her current opposition is based on anything more durable? Moreover, the scientific consensus on fracking’s safety remains contested. The EPA’s 2024 study on hydraulic fracturing found no evidence of widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources, though localized incidents have occurred.