Rep.-elect Byron Donalds (R-FL) has made headlines this week as the (soon-to-be) sophomore Congressman was nominated by Rep.-elect Chip Roy (R-TX) for Speaker of the House. With national attention heading Rep. Donalds’ way, the House Republicans erupted in applause when the Florida Congressman flipped his vote on Friday from the Freedom Caucus candidate (who was once at one point, Donalds himself) to Speaker favorite, Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Donalds went on "America Reports" following his nomination on Wednesday.
EXCLUSIVE: @ByronDonalds receives 20 speaker votes after being nominated for House Speaker in 4th round of voting.
He joins America Reports now.
"What we want to see is that leadership actually reflects where the American people are... pic.twitter.com/Y7ViFGXfT6
— America Reports (@AmericaRpts) January 4, 2023
“What we want to see is that the leadership reflects where the American people are. And that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation’s capital, not just given and that’s not an anti-Kevin statement. That’s an indictment of the political process here in Washington D.C.” said Donalds on Wednesday following his astonishing nomination.
On Friday, Donalds sent out a press release concerning his vote change, his current motivations, and how the current stalemate should be an example of how the government should run: through debate and discourse.
"Over the past several days, I’ve worked alongside Speaker Designate Kevin McCarthy and several of my colleagues in good faith to ensure accountability, representation, and commitments from House leadership in the 118th Congress. The progress we’ve made is significant. What we’ve witnessed is monumental and a testament to how government should function in our Constitutional Republic,” said Donalds.
He would go on to state that he is optimistic that Republicans will be able to come together and get the votes that McCarthy needs. He would also give his expectations of the Speaker’s Office as well.
"As we continue negotiations, I’m confident our conference is positioned to get the ball over the finish line. The Speaker’s Office must work for We The People, and I believe the concessions we’ve secured achieve this. Republicans are ready to govern and deliver results on behalf of our constituents and the nation,” Donalds stated in the press release.
Leader McCarthy needs just a few more votes to split from the Freedom Caucus in order to secure the Speakership.
