Age: 47
Party: Republican
Campaign website: byrondonalds.com
Education: Donalds has a Bachelor of Arts in finance and marketing from Florida State University.
Occupation: Donalds has worked in the finance, insurance and banking industries in Southwest Florida, according to his campaign website. Since 2021, Donalds has served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 19th district.
This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to the answers to these questions.
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please list each issue and how you will address them:
The topmost priority on Donalds’ campaign website is to “enact the Trump agenda” and “Make America Great Again.” He will protect conservative values, including defending Floridians’ constitutional right to bear arms, protect life and keep “radical woke ideology” out of schools, according to his website.
Other top priorities on his website are to fight illegal immigration and make Florida more affordable. Donalds will work with the president to secure the border to keep families and communities safe, end taxpayer “handouts” to illegal immigrants and stop drugs from coming into the state, according to his website.
On the affordability issue, the website said Donalds believes Florida is too expensive for many families and seniors and he will focus on solving the property insurance crisis and lowering housing costs.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Donalds’ campaign ads indicate that he will make Florida more affordable for families by lowering property tax and homeowner’s insurance costs. In an interview on the Cartier Family podcast on July 11, 2026, Donalds said he could potentially lower insurance rates by 20% by reforming the state’s property insurance regulatory framework.
In that same interview, he pointed to a study by the National Association of Homebuilders that said government costs account for about 30% of new home construction. Donalds said modernizing Florida’s permitting and planning processes for new home construction is one avenue he would explore for lowering housing costs for Floridians.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
At a campaign event in Tampa in September 2025, Donalds cautioned that if the state were to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes it would cause a spike in sales tax that would make it more expensive for people to travel to Florida and harm the state’s tourism industry.
Speaking at the same event, he indicated he would support raising the homestead exemption from $50,000 to between $300,000 and $400,000.
In comments published in Florida Politics on March 23, 2026, Donalds said on “day one as governor,” he would be “focused on delivering real property tax relief and trying to repeal homestead property taxes overall.”
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
In campaign ads, Donalds pledged to protect Floridians from AI data centers that he said will “jack up” utility rates and make everything else more expensive. He will fight for a ratepayer protection plan to ensure that Florida families do not see an increase in utilities as a result of datacenters, according to campaign ads.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
Donalds’ campaign website outlines a “Read to Succeed” plan, aimed at ensuring that Florida students learn to read at level by third grade. The plan includes equipping districts with science-of-reading based teacher training programs, establishing early reading indicators so struggling students are identified and helped before they fall behind, providing every third grader access to extra tutoring, and creating a statewide “Read to Succeed Award” to recognize teachers who demonstrate exceptional approaches to reading instruction.
Speaking at a campaign event in Tampa in September 2025, Donalds said he supports school choice for parents with a menu of both public and private school options.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Donalds is in support of the federal crackdown on immigration, according to his website. He has pledged to support President Trump’s immigration policies as he feels illegal immigrants are making life unsafe and more expensive for American families, according to his website.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
Donalds’ website indicated that he would “protect life” in Florida.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?
Donalds is committed to preserving Florida’s environment, according to his website. This means working to complete Everglades restoration, improve water quality, expand access to water supply and protect Florida beaches and other natural resources, according to his website.
This Voters Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.