MIAMI—With his 2026 gubernatorial campaign in full swing, Rep. Byron Donalds was in the City of Miami holding a ‘Meet and Greet’ event at the Resurreccion Baptist Church, where prospective Republican voters, legislators, and dozens of Miami-Dade Counties Republican grassroots activists attended to see possibly the next governor of Florida speak, speak English that is because his Espanol is 'no bueno.'
“We are here because we need Byron Donalds,” said State Senator Bryan Avila (R), who not only endorsed Rep. Donalds, but introduced him to the Republican faithful.
Also in attendance to show her support for Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign was State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R), as well as Doral Mayor Christie Fraga.
Shortly before he spoke and addressed the issues of transportation, property taxes, government corruption, waste, and DOGE, Donalds sat down with The Floridian for an exclusive interview
Sticking to script, Donalds said that he was focused on talking to the all-important Hispanic community, and the overall Miami-Dade County vote, about pressing issues like insurance and transportation.
If any of you have been stuck in Miami traffic at anytime in the day, well, you know what he is talking about when he says that transportation and gridlock in the Miami boogie down needs to be addressed.
Donalds, who says he is "working" on his Spanish, praised Gov. Ron DeSantis’s leadership over the years and vowed to “keep the state going in the same direction.”
Keep state going in the same direction
A recent James Madison Institute public opinion poll showed Donalds walloping potential gubernatorial candidate, First Lady Casey DeSantis, in a head-to-head race when Republican voters knew that President Trump has endorsed Donalds.
When asked about the poll, Donalds said that his campaign would not be dictated on any given public opinion survey or poll, and that he would continue to traverse the state and speak to as many potential voters as possible.
When asked about newly-turned-Independent, Senator Jason Pizzo, and Democratic newbie David Jolly entering the gubernatorial race, Donalds just shrugged their candidacies off.
“I don’t have too many thoughts about those guy. I would say if they are getting in, ‘Welcome,” he added. We’ll have a strong campaign and we will talk about the issus facing our state, and I believe that it will inact competition. We will come out on top.”
Having president trump’s endorsement and full support is critical not just in a Republican primary but really in all of Florida. Honored to have that support.
Donalds was also asked about the ongoing feud between Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee and DeSantis.
In response, Donalds says he understands “some of the dynamics” within the legislature, but the focus needs to on working together.
“I think it's about having a clear vision that both chambers can get behind and work with having an agenda, and then whatever the differences are you know ,we take care of a lot of this stuff frankly in the governor's office,” said Donalds. “ We sit down go through it hammer out these details and let's make sure that we're efficient with our time and stay focused on the people of Florida and the future of Florida because at the end of the day that's what matters.”
FULL INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE:
