File photo: Byron Donalds (Picture credit: AP)
US Rep Byron Donalds
is once again in the headlines after a video of him being shouted down by voters during a campaign stop went viral. The Florida Republican, who is running for governor in 2026 with US President Donald
Trump
’s endorsement, attempted to engage with a group of left-leaning voters but was met with boos and heckling.
In the clip, Donalds stood firm, responding, “I’m gonna be your governor, trust me! Oh, yes I am!” The moment, captured on social media went viral, earning praise, especially from right-wing supporters.
At the same time, Donalds is also embracing Trump’s hardline stance on international trade, defending the administration’s steep tariffs against China. Speaking on
Fox Business
, he argued the tariffs are necessary to end “sweetheart deals” from past administrations, saying, “China has to actually come to the table, not continue to ratchet up tariffs.”
Who is Byron Donalds?
- Byron Donalds is a US Congressman from Florida’s 19th District and a rising conservative figure now aiming for the state’s top job.
- Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donalds credits his single mother for instilling in him the value of sacrifice and hard work.
- After moving to Florida as a teenager, he earned a degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University and later entered the banking and insurance industry.
- Donalds began his political career in 2016 when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. During his time in the state legislature, he focused on criminal justice reform, education, and elder care.
- He was elected to Congress in 2020 and quickly aligned himself with the conservative
Tea Party wing and US President Trump, who endorsed his gubernatorial bid. - If elected, Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor. His campaign is focused on school reform, tackling the state’s insurance crisis, improving infrastructure, and positioning Florida as a global financial hub.
- He has pledged to keep the state a “free” one and build on the legacy of Governor
Ron DeSantis , though the two have had political clashes in recent years. - Donalds also faced legal issues in his past, including an arrest for
marijuana possession in 1997 and a bribery charge in 2000, which he has said stemmed from depositing a bad check. Both records were later dismissed or expunged. Despite those early run-ins with the law, Donalds has built a strong political résumé and has become one of the most vocal Black conservatives in theRepublican Party . - He’s also made waves in Washington, being floated as a possible House speaker and even as a Trump running mate in 2024.
