Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) lauded Florida as the "best state in America" for several Conservative cornerstones and values during a recent speaking appearance for his gubernatorial campaign.
Rep. Donalds, who entered the race in February 2025, outlined Florida's blueprint in protecting life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness for its residents as reasons for the distinction.
He included supporting law enforcement, property rights, and freedom of religion in his assessment. In particular, Rep. Donalds affirmed his support of Israel and the Jewish faith to Jewish leaders and activists at the Chabad of Central Boca Raton.
Donalds is competing against Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner, and businessman James Fishback for the Republican nomination. He is backed by President Donald Trump, which he highlighted in a new ad spot earlier this week.
The GOP primary is Aug. 18.
His full remarks are below:
"We are the best state in America. People continue to choose our state. They're going to continue to choose our state. And one of the reasons why we've been able to accomplish so much is because our state has been led by common-sense conservative leadership."
"And this common sense is rooted in a couple of just fundamental truths, number one, that our society and our country is based on Western civilization and Judeo-Christian values. Those are the ideas, the sets of ideas that protect liberty, protect life, protect property, protect the ability to pursue happiness. It actually puts government in a box, allows people to really thrive and succeed."
"The only requirements, main requirements of government are, number one, law and order to make sure that we're supporting law enforcement and that we're not allowing for individuals to persecute one another; those people need to be held accountable for that."
"Number two, protecting those property rights, because that's critical if you're going to pursue happiness and build wealth."
"And number three, and this is probably going to take more of the topic today, is the free exercise of religion to make sure that we're standing against bigotry, oppression, antisemitism, and the like."
"Part of what makes Florida great and part of what's made the United States the best country in the world is that we have people from all walks of life. But there is a common moral respect and a common moral clarity that we have, even the people that we disagree. In politics, there are disagreements, but that's okay."
"That's part of the constitutional republic that is America, and it's it is those foundational principles that have made Florida the envy of the other 49 states. As running for governor as the state's next governor, those fundamental principles, that foundation will remain."
