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Doral, Florida - Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Naples) has launched an active campaign this year for Governor of the Mostly Free State of Florida. His campaign has even won the coveted Trump endorsement, which is usually enough to win at least the Republican primary. This endorsement, especially in the State of Florida, is thought to have been obtained through Trump’s redoubtable Chief of Staff, Suzie Wiles.

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Donalds is a pleasure to listen to on economics issues when interviewed by Stuart Varney and Larry Kudlow with Fox Business. He has also expressed an interest in promoting Miami as a global financial center, rivaling not only New York, but also Texas, and in setting up a new branch of courts to focus on business disputes. Your correspondent, however, is concerned about his support for Centralized Digital Bank Currency.

Accordingly, Donalds should be in pretty good shape in his campaign. Nevertheless, many questions persist about his past and present positions and associations, as follows:

1. Trayvon Martin

Congressman Donalds first became active in politics during the Tea Party protests of 2009-10. Then he addressed a crowd at a vigil in Naples during 2012 in support of Trayvon Martin. This news was reported by the Naples Daily News via the USA Today network.

George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, was charged with murder in this case. After a trial, however, the jury found that he had acted in self-defense. Trayvon Martin was a violent teenager who had been expelled from the Miami-Dade Public Schools. He was a victim of a fatherless upbringing, and had fallen into a life of lawlessness.

2. George Floyd

In May 2021, Donalds released a statement marking one year since George Floyd's death, acknowledging national challenges and progress. He emphasized that true progress involves strengthening community-police relationships, rather than defunding the police or engaging in destructive protests.

In addition, as Pastor Corey Brooks of the South Side of Chicago has acknowledged, progress must be made in restoring the black family. George Floyd left behind some eight of his children that he had abandoned.

To his credit, Congressman Donalds voted against the “George Floyd Justice-in-Policing Act,” criticizing it as a measure to "defund, dismantle, and abolish the police." He advocated for further legislation as a more appropriate approach to police reform. He stated: “I want justice for George Floyd, but we can’t burn down our cities and small businesses - - many black-owned. We can’t target our police officers, many of which are good. We must come together as a country to better our communities, not let anger push us toward anarchy.”

George Floyd died in police custody after a self-administered drug overdose. He was saying that he couldn’t breathe before being arrested for passing counterfeit bills. Nevertheless, the woke progressive legal system in Minneapolis convicted the police officers involved in his arrest.

3. Presidential Election of 2020

Donalds voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results, and has continued to express skepticism about the election's integrity. In a 2024 interview, he suggested that he might decline to certify future election results if he believed state officials violated election laws. Nevertheless, Donalds has stated that: “Voting machines are here to stay, Biden won fair and square, get over it.”

4. Capitol Riot on January 6, 2021

Initially, Donalds condemned the violence on January 6, describing the rioters as "lawless vigilantes" who disrupted the certification process. He condemned that “the actions of the unruly mob took away from many Americans’ real concerns regarding the integrity of the election….The protesters showed a warped display of so-called patriotism.”

He added that: “I want to personally thank the Capitol Police heroes” for keeping us safe. A Capitol Police officer wrongfully shot and killed Ashli Babbit.

In fact, the Capitol riot was mostly a false-flag operation, orchestrated by the Deep State to cover up for a stolen presidential election.

Donalds later criticized Democrats for using the event to target Trump supporters, and pledged to release all January 6 footage if he became House Speaker. Nevertheless, he never paid attention to the pleadings on behalf of the J6 political prisoners, and has said that: “the J6’ers got what they deserved.”

5. Efficacy of Vaccines

Congressman Donalds continues to support the distribution of mRNA vaccines. He has spoken out against mandates, but supports the shots. He has stated that: “The jab is safe and effective, and has saved millions of lives.”

His position runs against those of the Florida Department of Health, which is that these vaccines are unsafe, and of Florida Surgeon General Ladapo, who has warned against taking these unsafe vaccines.

6. Florida House Speaker Danny Perez

During a visit to Tallahassee this year, Donalds refrained from taking sides in the political dispute between Governor DeSantis and House Speaker Danny Perez over tax cuts. Perez has blocked the reduction or elimination of property taxes proposed by DeSantis, and instead has proposed small reductions in sales taxes.

In any event, property taxes represent a case where government taxes unrealized gains. For example, if you buy a stock for a price of $100, and its market price increases to $150 the following year, then the IRS does not tax you on your $50 paper gain. The Obama-Biden 3.0 administration tried to do this, and gave property taxes as an example of government already doing this, but they lost the argument.

Accordingly, property taxes should be applied, if they are applied at all, only on the initial purchase price of a property. Also, a good portion of any gain is often due solely to the effects of inflation.
Donalds emphasized the importance of party unity and stated: "Because, to be blunt, there’s one Governor at a time. They are going to take care of this and we move on from here." This approach shows an unwillingness to align himself with the conservative positions of Governor DeSantis on property taxes and other issues.

7. Vice Chairman of RPOF Jovante Teague

Jovante Teague was elected, with support from Congressman Donalds, as the Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in early 2025. Subsequently, reports surfaced about an investigation into Teague’s participation in a sexual liaison with a prison inmate during his time as a prison guard. As a result of this investigation, Teague resigned his state criminal justice certification. Of course, he fits right in with the ethos of RPOF leadership.

Other Candidates for Governor of Florida

A potential Republican candidate this year for Governor is Casey DeSantis. She would continue the conservative policies of her husband, Governor DeSantis, without launching a primary campaign for President against candidate Trump. Governor DeSantis has faced a rebellion this year from the state legislature. He is paying the political price for having backed a losing presidential candidate: himself. He “shot at the King” and missed. He let himself be seduced by the likes of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush, and probably also the urging of his wife Casey.

The Trump camp may continue to hold a grudge for that primary campaign against the DeSantis couple, but in a representative republic, the people shall judge. Casey has not announced her candidacy. If Casey does not run, then Republican Senator Jay Collins, a staunch ally of Governor DeSantis, may fill their lane.

Another announced candidate for Governor is Senator Jason Pizzo of Broward County. He is the former minority leader in the State Senate, but left the Democrat party and is running as an independent. This move shows how toxic the Democrat brand has become.

Nevertheless, former Republican Congressman David Jolly has switched parties to Democrat, and has announced his plan to run for Governor. As the Romans would say, there is no accounting for taste.
John Morgan, head of the largest injury law firm in the world and based in Orlando, has been a major Democrat donor and would like to be Governor. However, he knows that he is not an attractive candidate, especially after praising socialism at in event in Tallahassee this week. He observed that: “There is nothing wrong with the concept of socialism….Socialism has a lot of good things.” There go most of his votes from transplants to Florida from socialist jurisdictions in Blue States, Latin America and the rest of the world.

In any event, Morgan does not need to be elected Governor in order to enact his agenda promoting the interests of trial lawyers. House Speaker Danny Perez, and his protégé Representative Mike Redondo, are already advancing that agenda in the state legislature. Morgan has talked about starting a third party, so maybe they should all unite to form a new third party: the Democrat Socialist Party of Florida.

Finally, a Republican wild card is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He is shining in his job, and is probably the favorite to be selected for Vice President by Presidential candidate J.D. Vance in 2028. However, he has until around next April 1 to resign from his job and run for Governor of Florida. He would almost certainly win!