David Jolly, the Democratic challenger for Florida’s gubernatorial seat, recently criticized his opponent, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), over conflict-of-interest concerns tied to reports about his wife’s private companies.
“Today’s reporting makes it clear that Byron and Erika Donalds have an obvious conflict of interest in how taxpayer money is used to benefit for-profit charter school management companies,” Jolly wrote in a statement. “I’m calling on Byron to divest his family’s interests in companies that profit off of state spending should he be elected to state office again.”
Reports Raise Concerns Over Conflicts of Interest
Jolly’s statements follow reports that five state-funded charter schools paid two private companies owned by Erika Donalds more than $30 million from 2022-2026.
The reports raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest tied to Congressman Donalds' family wealth once he enters office.
“Once the taxpayer money lands in the coffers of Donalds’ businesses, how it’s used and how much executives are paid is not publicly reported,” wrote Claire Heddles with the Tampa Bay Times.
Erika Donalds' Non-Profit Charter School & For-Profit Curriculum Company
Under Florida law, only nonprofit organizations or public entities can run charter schools. However, charter schools can contract with private companies.
In Donalds’ case, she owns both Optima Classical Academy, an online charter school, and OptimaED LLC, a virtual reality curriculum company.
According to the academy’s 2026-27 school-year budget documents, OptimaED LLC is on pace to charge the Academy $15.7 million in service fees.
This includes $9.7 million from the governor-approved state budget, $4 million in local property taxes, and $2 million from a Collier County school funding referendum.
Erika Fires Back At Jolly
Erika responded to Jolly’s criticisms, calling the Democratic challenger’s effort sexist.
David, treating a woman’s businesses as her husband’s property is sexist.
Your insinuation that taxpayer money is being directed into our personal bank accounts is FALSE, and you know it.
I’ve built schools that give families better options and educators the freedom to do work they love. You’re smearing their work and mine to score cheap political points.
You’re losing, you’re lying, and in 12 days you’ll be back to figuring out which political party to try on next.
— Erika Donalds (@ErikaDonalds) October 23, 2026
"I’ve built schools that give families better options and educators the freedom to do work they love," Donalds wrote. "You’re smearing their work and mine to score cheap political points."
"You’re losing, you’re lying, and in 12 days you’ll be back to figuring out which political party to try on next," she concluded.
