Byron Donalds targets progressives, will join conservative House 'Freedom Force'

Republican Congressman-elect Byron Donalds has told The Floridian he will be joining Congresswoman-elect Maria Elvira Salazar’s conservative “Freedom Force” caucus in the U.S. House of Representative.

“I’m always on the side of individual liberty, so being in the Freedom Force is a ‘no-brainer’ for me,” said Donalds.

Donalds, who won the Republican-leaning congressional seat vacated by retiring Rep. Francis Rooney (R), said that he has already spoken to Salazar and Congressman-elect Burgess Owen of Utah about joining the counterweight to the Progressive “Squad” in the House, and both the Freedom and Congressional Black Caucuses.

“Working with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the issues that line up with my principles should be easy but I also think it’s important that in the Congressional Black Caucus we have people from all sides of politics that are black to be a member of that caucus,” said Donalds.

The idea of starting a direct challenge to the Democratic Socialism agenda that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-led “Squad” first started was brought up by Salazar during an interview with NBC News.

“I want to create a force within my freshman class that will have to be reckoned with. A force of reason, a force for freedom, a force for democracy,” said Salazar.

Salazar, who has lived in the Cuban-American exile community in Miami since 1961, added that socialism “ only brings misery, oppression and exile.”

All new incoming House members, including Salazar, Donalds, and fellow Floridian, Congressman-elect Carlos Gimenez (R), continue with the freshman orientation process this week, having taken only a few days off from a rigorous schedule put forth by House Republican leadership.

Republicans defeated Democrats across the nation at all levels of government, including winning key congressional seats that helped shrink the Democratic House Majority lead in the U.S. House of Representatives.