Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 19th district | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Francis Rooney |
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 80th district | |
In office November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Matt Hudson |
Succeeded by | Lauren Melo |
Personal details | |
Born | Byron Lowell Donalds October 28, 1978 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Erika Donalds |
Children | 3 |
Education | Florida A&M University Florida State University (BS) |
Website | House website |
Byron Lowell Donalds (born October 28, 1978)[1] is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district as a member of the Republican Party since 2021.[2][3] His district serves most of the heart of Southwest Florida, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples. Donalds previously was the Florida state representative for the 80th district, which encompasses Hendry County and part of Collier County,[4] from 2016 to 2021.[5][4][6]
Early life and education[]
Donalds was born and raised in the Crown Heights neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[7][8] One of three children, he was raised by his single mother.[7] In 1996, Donalds graduated from Nazareth Regional High School in East Flatbush.[9] He attended Florida A&M University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University in 2002.[10][7]
Career[]
Prior to entering politics, Donalds worked in the finance, insurance, and banking industries.[1] He has worked at TIB Bank, CMG Life Services, and Moran Wealth in Naples, Florida.[7]
After Donalds became politically involved as a participant in the Tea Party movement, he was encouraged to run for office.[7]
In 2012, Donalds was a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 19th congressional district. He finished fifth of six candidates.[11] In 2014, Donalds was reported as a likely candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 19th congressional district following the resignation of Trey Radel, but decided against running.[11]
Donalds was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. During his Florida House tenure, Donalds chaired the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.[12]
U.S. House of Representatives[]
Elections[]
2020[]
Donalds was the Republican nominee for Florida's 19th congressional district in the 2020 election, running to succeed retiring incumbent Francis Rooney. He won a crowded nine-way Republican primary by 770 votes over fellow Republican state representative Dane Eagle, finishing just over the threshold to avoid a recount.[13][14] In August 2020, anonymous text messages were sent out to constituents in the 19th district claiming that Donalds was dropping out of the race. Donalds later clarified via tweet that he was not dropping out and characterized the messages as "illegal".[15][16] During his campaign, Donalds stated his support for economic freedom, clean water, nuclear power and decreased government involvement in health care. He opposed the Green New Deal.[7]
In the November 2020 general election, Donalds defeated Democratic nominee Cindy Banyai. Donalds has said he will focus on policy related to water quality in Southwest Florida.[17] However, he had effectively assured himself of a seat in Congress with his primary win. Republicans have a 100,000-voter advantage over Democrats in registration, and Florida Gulf Coast University professor Peter Bergerson noted that the Republican primary is almost always the real contest for most races in the area.[13] Upon his swearing-in on January 3, 2021; Donalds became only the sixth person to represent this district since its creation in 1983 (it had been the 13th District from 1983 to 1993, the 14th from 1993 to 2013, and has been the 19th since 2013).
Tenure[]
In late 2020, Donalds was identified as a participant in the Freedom Force, a group of incoming Republican members of the House of Representatives who "say they’re fighting against socialism in America".[18][19][20]
In January 2021, Donalds voted to object to the certification of electors from the states of Arizona and Pennsylvania in the 2020 presidential election.[21]
Donalds was blocked from joining the Congressional Black Caucus.[22][23]
Iraq[]
In June 2021, Donalds was one of forty-nine House Republicans who voted in favor of the repeal of the AUMF against Iraq.[24][25]
Committee assignments[]
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Committee on Budget
- Committee on Small Business[26]
Caucus memberships[]
Personal life[]
Donalds and his wife, Erika, have three sons. They live in Naples, Florida.[29] Donalds became a Christian at the age of 21.[7]
Electoral History[]
2016[30][]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Byron Donalds | 9,115 | 64.4% | |
Republican | Joe Davidow | 5,041 | 35.6% | |
Total votes | 14,156 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Byron Donalds | 51,031 | 100.0% | |
Independent | Anthony Joseph Cetrangelo (write-in) | 7 | 0.0% | |
Total votes | 51,038 | 100.0 |
2020[30][]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Byron Donalds | 23,492 | 22.6% | |
Republican | Dane Eagle | 22,715 | 21.9% | |
Republican | Casey Askar | 20,774 | 20.0% | |
Republican | William Figlesthaler | 19,075 | 18.3% | |
Republican | Randy Henderson | 7,858 | 7.6% | |
Republican | Christy McLaughlin | 4,245 | 4.1% | |
Republican | Dan Severson | 3,197 | 3.1% | |
Republican | Darren Aquino | 1,466 | 1.4% | |
Republican | Daniel Kowal | 1,135 | 1.1% | |
Total votes | 103,957 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Byron Donalds | 272,440 | 61.27% | |
Democratic | Cindy Banyai | 172,146 | 38.72% | |
Independent | Patrick Post (write-in) | 3 | 0.01% | |
Total votes | 444,589 | 100.0 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b "Meet Byron". Byron Donalds for Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ "Donalds, Rommel win state House seats". Naplesnews.com. 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ "Florida House of Representatives - Byron Donalds - 2016-2018". Myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ a b "Byron Donalds - 2020 - 2022 ( Speaker Sprowls ) | Florida House of Representatives". Retrieved Feb 2, 2021.
- ^ Conradis, Brandon (November 3, 2020). "Republican Byron Donalds wins House race in Florida". TheHill.
- ^ "Black-American Members by Congress, 1870–Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved Feb 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Amy Bennett. "'Almost an oxymoron': Rising star Byron Donalds is a Black conservative aiming for national office". The News-Press.
- ^ "Byron Donalds leading in Florida GOP primary, raising party's diversity hopes". Roll Call. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ "Nazareth Alumni Byron Donalds '96 Elected Florida State Representative - Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools". Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ Buzzacco-Foerster, Jenna (2016-08-04). "Meet Byron Donalds, Republican running in House District 80". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ a b "Byron Donalds decides not to run for Congress". archive.naplesnews.com.
- ^ "Republican Byron Donalds wins District-19 Congressional seat". November 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Bennett Williams, Amy. "Byron Donalds wins Republican primary election for U.S. Congressional District 19, will face Democrat Cindy Banyai". The News-Press. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ Ogles, Jacob (2020-01-06). "Byron Donalds announces bid for Francis Rooney's congressional seat". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ Alex Marquardt and Paul P. Murphy. "Fake texts and YouTube video spread disinformation about Republican primary candidate on election day". CNN. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ "Fake text claims Byron Donalds dropped out of Congressional race, he calls it illegal". NBC2 News. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ Williams, Amy Bennett. "'Blessed and highly favored' Byron Donalds wins election for U.S. Congressional District 19, pledges water quality No. 1 priority". Naples News. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
- ^ Jankowicz, Mia. "A group of incoming GOP House members, calling themselves the 'Freedom Force,' are trying to counter Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 'Squad'". Business Insider.
- ^ Parke, Caleb (December 1, 2020). "GOP Congresswoman-elect on forming 'Freedom Force': Left is 'totally out of line' with mainstream". Fox News.
- ^ "The 'Freedom Force': Republican group takes on the Squad and 'evil' socialism". the Guardian. November 30, 2020.
- ^ Skoneki, Mark (January 7, 2021). "Florida Sen. Rick Scott votes yes on objection to Biden's presidency; Rubio votes no". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ Goba, Kadia (June 9, 2021). "The Congressional Black Caucus Is Blocking A Black Republican From Joining The Group". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Lonas, Lexi (2021-06-09). "Congressional Black Caucus blocking Black House Republican from joining group". The Hill. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Rebecca Shabad (June 17, 2021). "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 172". Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses | U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds". donalds.house.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "House Freedom Caucus Could Add 7 New Conservative Members". The Daily Signal. 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
- ^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ Ceballos, Ana. "Five questions for State Rep. Byron Donalds". Naples News. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ^ a b "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Byron Donalds. |
- Representative Byron Donalds official U.S. House website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Byron Donalds for Congress
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Florida House of Representatives - Byron Donalds
- 1978 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- African-American Christians
- African-American members of the United States House of Representatives
- African-American state legislators in Florida
- American anti-communists
- Black conservatism in the United States
- Candidates in the 2020 United States elections
- Florida Republicans
- Florida State University alumni
- Living people
- Members of the Florida House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida
- People from Naples, Florida
- Politicians from Brooklyn
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American people
- Tea Party movement activists