Byron Donalds shuts down Bill Maher’s claim on GOP primary racism, says 'Florida is a meritocracy'

Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds rejected comedian Bill Maher’s claims that he lost key counties in the recent primary in part due to the racism within the state.

Appearing on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday night, Donalds, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, pushed back on host Bill Maher's assertion that he lost parts of Florida's Panhandle because of the area's predominantly White electorate.

"You did lose the ‘Redneck Riviera’ badly," Maher said, referring to Donalds’ losses in Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hardee, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Washington counties — rural counties where roughly 94% of Republican voters are White.

STEPHEN A SMITH ADMITS BYRON DONALDS COULD MAKE HIM A REPUBLICAN, CALLS HIM ‘THE REAL DEAL’ "I can’t get with you on a lot of this policy stuff," Maher continued.

"But I think it would be great if the country did have [its] first Black, Republican governor." Maher went on to praise Donalds for his willingness to run in "this post-racial world" where constituents don’t care about the "color of their skin," but he added that "we’re not quite there yet though." BILL MAHER BLASTS CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATION RESULTS, CITES TWO SURGING RED STATES "The Redneck Riviera, which is the Panhandle," Maher began.

"I think there are people there who still would not — you’re a Republican, you’re a Trumper — they should love you and they don’t.

I think there is still racism." "Let’s talk a little bit about the Panhandle," Donalds replied, beginning his rebuttal.

"There are counties we did incredibly well in that we won.

There were some counties that we fell a little short in, that’s okay." WATCH: BYRON DONALDS BRUSHES OFF GOP DEBATE DEMANDS AS RIVALS LAG FAR BEHIND IN POLLS Donalds then pointed out the crowded Florida primary field which had 11 Republicans on the ballot, with candidates "who had various lines of support." "The number one thing overall, we closed out 48% of the vote in Florida," Donalds said.

"800,000 votes [is] a long way to becoming the nominee." TRUMP-BACKED NOMINEES DOMINATE PRIMARY CONTESTS AS PRESIDENT TIGHTENS PARTY VICE GRIP Donalds went on to push back against Maher's argument that racial bias influenced the primary results, insisting that Florida is a place where people can pursue opportunities in elected office.

"Florida really has become the microcosm of what we all want," Donalds said.

"It's a meritocracy.

And it's about the best person with the best views, the best skills, the best talent moving forward to represent your state or to represent a district in your state, and Florida exemplifies that." GIANNO CALDWELL: FLORIDA NEEDS BYRON DONALDS TO PROTECT THE DESANTIS LEGACY However, former Florida state Sen.