Congressman Byron Donalds is Having a Town Hall At FAMU… But Bans Recordings

Byron Donalds is promoting a gubernatorial town hall at Florida A&M University as an opportunity for voters to discuss “the future of our great state,” but the event comes with some restrictions that aren’t immediately apparent from his social media announcement.

According to the Florida A&M Student Government Association’s Eventbrite listing, Tuesday’s event is limited to current registered FAMU students. Anyone else who wants to attend must contact an organizer and request permission to participate, Yahoo News reports.

That makes the event considerably less open than the “town hall” label might suggest, particularly for a candidate seeking to become Florida’s next governor.

The restrictions are also notable given Donalds’ recent history with debates during the Republican primary. Donalds declined to participate in some GOP primary debates, arguing that candidates should first demonstrate a certain level of support in the polls before earning a spot on the debate stage.

Donalds later agreed to participate in general election debates against Democrat David Jolly, but the debate process ultimately broke down.

Now, rather than facing his opponent in a televised debate, Donalds will appear Tuesday at FAMU for a student-focused town hall where attendees are also prohibited from recording the proceedings.

The format gives Donalds an opportunity to speak directly to students and discuss his campaign without the broader audience, format and scrutiny that come with a televised debate.

For a candidate pitching the event as a chance to talk about Florida’s future, the fine print matters. The town hall may be billed as an opportunity for voters to engage with Donalds, but the event’s rules determine who gets through the door—and what happens once they do.

See social media’s reaction to Donalds town hall requests below.