Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of the Sunshine State, reacted Friday night to ESPN host and long-time Democrat Stephen A. Smith claiming that the gubernatorial hopeful could make him a Republican.

Smith made the statement on Thursday's episode of his Sirius XM podcast "Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith." 

"I ain't no d--- Republican. But ... if anybody could make me one, it would be him," Smith said. "He's the real deal. Make no mistake about it. I've seen him battling with Democrats. I've seen him battling with people on different shows, whatever. He ain't backing up. He knows his stuff. OK? I talk to him all the time. And I ain't got nothing bad to say about him."

Donalds reacted to the statement on the "Just The News, No Noise" TV show, stating that the comment "means a lot" to him and that he tries to keep things simple for Florida voters with common sense solutions.

"I do believe that resonates with people. So to hear Stephen A. Smith say that, really means a lot to me," Donalds said. "He's a good guy. We've gotten a chance to know each other over the last year or so, and that really means a lot. 

"I think for the future, it demonstrates what people are looking for," he continued. "Republicans, independent voters, even Democrats—they just want this country to work. They want common sense to reign. They want safe streets. They want a border that's secure. They want an economic system where people can earn a great living and provide for their futures and just enjoy life. I mean, that's really what people are looking for."

Donalds claimed that the Trump administration is working hard to bring that vision about for Americans, and that the Republican is hoping to continue bringing common-sense solutions to his state of Florida as its next governor. 

"There's a reason why people are leaving other states and they come to Florida, and it's not just the beaches and it's not just the sunshine," he said. "If that was the case, people would be moving hand over fist to move to California, and they're not. They're leaving California. They're coming to states like Florida because, yes, we have the beauty, but it's also a lot of common sense and law and order, and it's what the American people are looking for."

The comment comes as Florida voters prepare to head to the polls next week to vote in the state's primaries. 

Donalds, who has secured President Donald Trump's endorsement, is facing Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner, and outsider candidate James Fishback in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.