Candidate · November 3, 2026

Byron Donalds

On the ballot for Governor · Florida

RepublicanOpen seatServing in Congress now
issues with public statements
10

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeGovernor · Florida1,2,3
Party on the ballotRepublican1,2,3,4
StatusOpen seat — Currently serves in the U.S. House, representing Florida's 19th District.5
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Donalds was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and lives in Naples, Florida.6 He graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and worked in the finance, insurance and banking industries in Southwest Florida.6 He served in the Florida House of Representatives starting in 2016 and chaired its Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.6,7 He was elected to the U.S. House in 2020 and represents Florida's 19th Congressional District.6

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says his goal is a Florida that is accountable to its citizens, where children can achieve their dreams, and that is affordable for everyone who lives there.8

Service in Congress since 2023

  • 2025–nowU.S. Representative, FL-195
  • 2023–2025U.S. Representative, FL-195

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Taxes and Budget

Property taxes

His campaign website says he would keep property taxes in check so that seniors and working families are not taxed out of their homes, and would make annual property tax notices show clearly which local offices receive the money.10,11

State income tax

His campaign website says he would keep Florida's state personal income tax at zero.12

  1. Add or raise taxes on the highest incomes (for example, a tax on income over $1 million)
  2. Keep current rates
  3. Cut rates or move to a single flat rate
  4. Phase out the state income tax
Marked: the option their statement matches.
State government spending

His campaign website says he would run annual audits at every level of government, from state agencies down to local utility and special districts, and expand state watchdog audits to find waste, cut bloated programs and save taxpayers money.11

Energy and Climate

Data centers and electricity costs

His campaign website says large data centers should not pass their electricity and water costs on to households.10

  1. Encourage new data centers with tax breaks and faster approvals
  2. Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need
  3. Pause or limit new data centers
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Immigration

Work eligibility checks (E-Verify)

His campaign website says he would require every Florida business to use E-Verify.13

  1. Keep it optional for most employers
  2. Require it only for larger employers or certain industries
  3. Require all employers to use it
Marked: the option their statement matches.
State and local role in immigration enforcement

His campaign website says state and local police should coordinate directly with federal authorities to deport noncitizens who commit crimes.13

Education

Vouchers and education savings accounts

His campaign website says education money should follow the student so parents can choose their child's school, and lists leading the effort to enact Hope Scholarships in the Florida House among his accomplishments.6,14

Books in school libraries

His campaign website says that in the Florida House he passed what it calls a first-in-the-nation bill allowing parents and community members to review instructional materials in schools.6

Crime, Policing and Prisons

Police funding

His campaign website says he would offer hiring bonuses and competitive salaries to bring top police officers, sheriff's deputies and first responders to Florida.15

  1. Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
  2. Keep funding near current levels
  3. Shift some police funding to mental health, housing or other services
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties

Religious exemptions

His campaign website says he would protect every congregation's right to preach, teach, hire and serve according to its conscience by writing that right into state law.16

§4Popular bills that never got a vote

Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.

While Byron Donalds served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Byron Donalds sponsored or cosponsored 9 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.

See all 52

§5Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left.

Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Campaign finance database search — Florida Department of State, Division of Elections.69

§6Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.