Expect a lot of hot air and no real solutions

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds will address the Republican Party convention taking place today and tomorrow in Dallas, Texas. Floridians can expect a familiar script from Donalds: more culture-war distractions designed to mask the GOP’s failed economic policies in Florida and across the nation during a historic cost of living crisis.

“When he gets on the stage, he’ll tell you the story he wants you to hear. But we’d like to remind Floridians of Byron Donalds’ record, which speaks louder and clearer than his words: he will always put corporate special interests and party politics over the people of Florida,” said Lisa Zayas, Deputy Communications Director for Florida Watch. “Donalds built his career working as a wealth manager helping the rich get richer. As a politician, he’s continued putting the ultra-wealthy and his corporate donors first instead of the people he was elected to serve. His loyalty lies with Donald Trump and the corporate elite donors who are funding his political ambitions, not with the everyday Floridians he was elected to serve.”

Byron Donalds’ record speaks for itself:  

• As a Congressman, he voted for the largest healthcare cut in American history in order to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.
• He voted to withhold billions of dollars in funding for disaster relief and flood insurance after major Category 3 and 4 hurricanes hit Florida.
• He voted twice for, and fully supports, the costly, endless and illegal war in Iran that has skyrocketed gas and utilities prices, while putting service members’ lives at risk.
• He voted against a bill that would have lowered the cost of housing for everyday Americans and gave tax breaks to Wall Street developers buying up homes and jacking up prices.
• He supports Trump’s illegal tariffs that are costing the average family $1,700 extra for basics like groceries and insurance.

“Throughout his political career, Donalds has repeatedly worsened the economic challenges facing his constituents, including the growing affordability crisis and the rising cost of living.

“Rather than standing up for Floridians, Donalds dismisses their very real financial concerns while voting for policies that benefit his billionaire buddies and hurt everyday Floridians.”

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Florida Watch is a communications and research organization that serves as the progressive community’s in-state hub for message development, digital communications, and research. Florida Watch keeps an eye on everything that goes on in our state to hold our elected officials accountable when they support laws and policies that make it harder for everyday Floridians to be healthy, prosperous, and safe. You can follow along with Florida Watch on social media on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.