Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced Sen. Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah Gardens) as his choice for lieutenant governor while speaking at the Freedom Tower at Miami-Dade College in Miami today.
"Brian Avila is the son of Cuban exiles who fled communism so their children could live in freedom," Donalds said. " We didn't inherit political names. We didn't inherit the political birthright, but what we inherited was the responsibility to fight for the state that gave our families everything."
Avila has represented Senate District 39, which includes Hialeah Gardens, Hialeah, and Miami Lakes, since 2022. Rep. Donalds' pick coincides with the rise of socialism in the Democratic party; socialism, a forbidden word to many in the Florida's Hispanic community.
SD 39 is roughly 90% Hispanic.
Rep. Donalds and Avila will go against Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly and Gwen Graham in the general election.
"David Jolly and Gwen Graham answer to the Democrat socialists of America. We answer to the people of Florida," Donalds said. "Florida is the greatest state in America because we continue to choose common sense conservative leadership over the Democrats failed liberal agenda, and in this critical fight, I wanted a proven warrior to stand right beside me."
"Brian is a conservative fighter with more than a decade in the Florida Legislature delivering real results. He took on woke ideology as the former Speaker pro tem, current chairman in the Senate of Finance and Tax, he's co-sponsored and sponsored the Stop Hope Act, defending merit, individual liberty, and taking down divisive DEI agendas," Donalds added.
Avila served as Speaker pro tem in the Florida House of Representatives from 2020 to 2022. He also represented District 111 in the House from 2014 to 2022.
"He has relentlessly fought excessive property taxes. He has delivered toll relief. He has cut everyday costs, and he has protected families from high utility bills from data centers," Donalds continued. "He created the Spectrum Alert, led battles against human trafficking and spearheaded historic conservation efforts to restore Biscayne Bay and the Osborne Reef."
Avila thanked Rep. Donalds for the selection.
"I want to thank the man who has given me one of the greatest honors of my life. Our next governor of the state of Florida, Byron Donalds," Avila said. "Byron, thank you for your trust. Thank you for your friendship and thank you for your leadership."
"You and I share a fundamental belief that the Democrats will never understand. Florida gave our families a chance, and now we are fighting to make sure that every single family in the state of Florida has the opportunity that our families had to succeed," Avila continued.
The general election is Nov. 3.
