Byron Donalds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Byron Donalds
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 19th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Francis Rooney |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 80th district |
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| In office November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Matt Hudson |
| Succeeded by | Lauren Melo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Byron Lowell Donalds
October 28, 1978 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (2010–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 2010) |
| Spouses |
Bisa Hall
(m. 1999; div. 2002)Erika Lees
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Florida A&M University Florida State University (BS) |
| Website | |
Byron Lowell Donalds (born October 28, 1978) is an American politician. He works as a U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district since 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before joining Congress, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. His district covers a large part of Southwest Florida.
Donalds was elected to Congress in 2020. In January 2023, he was nominated for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also a candidate for Speaker in October 2023. In February 2025, Donalds announced he would run for governor of Florida in 2026.
About Byron Donalds
His Early Life and School
Byron Donalds grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, a neighborhood in New York City. He was one of three children raised by his single mother. He finished high school at Nazareth Regional High School in 1996. Donalds has family roots from Jamaica and Panama.
He went to Florida A&M University and later transferred to Florida State University. In 2002, he earned a degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University.
His Career Before Politics
Before he became a politician, Donalds worked in the finance world. He started as a credit analyst at TIB Bank in 2003. He was promoted several times, becoming a commercial credit manager. In 2007, he became a portfolio manager at CMG Surety LLC. Later, in 2015, he worked as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors.
Joining the Republican Party
In 2010, Donalds changed from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He became involved in the Tea Party movement, which encouraged him to run for public office.
In 2012, Donalds ran for the U.S. House of Representatives but did not win. He was then elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. While serving in the Florida House, he led the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.
His Work in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Member of Congress
Byron Donalds ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. He wanted to take the place of Francis Rooney, who was retiring. Donalds won a tough primary election against eight other Republican candidates. He won by a very small number of votes.
During his campaign, Donalds said he supported Donald Trump. He also said he believed in economic freedom and clean water. He was against the Green New Deal, which is a plan for climate change.
In the general election in November 2020, Donalds won against Cindy Banyai, the Democratic candidate. When he started his term on January 3, 2021, Donalds became the sixth person to represent this district.
Key Moments in Congress
In late 2020, Donalds joined a group of new Republican House members called the "Freedom Force." This group said they were fighting against socialism in America. In 2021, Donalds was not allowed to join the Congressional Black Caucus.
2020 Election Views
In January 2021, Donalds voted to object to the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. He has stated that Joe Biden was not the rightful president of the United States.
Speaker of the House Elections
In January 2023, during the election for Speaker of the House, Donalds received votes from some members. This was a notable moment because it was the first time two Black lawmakers were nominated for Speaker. The other nominee was Hakeem Jeffries. Donalds was nominated multiple times before eventually switching his vote back to Kevin McCarthy.
Donalds was also a candidate for Speaker of the House in October 2023.
Views on History
In June 2024, Donalds spoke about the Jim Crow era. He said that during that time, Black families were often together. He also said that more Black people voted conservatively back then. After some discussion about his comments, Donalds clarified that he was not saying Black people were better off under Jim Crow. He also said he was not saying Jim Crow was good.
His Committee Roles
For the 118th Congress, Byron Donalds serves on important committees:
- Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy
- Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs
- Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
Groups He Belongs To
Donalds is a member of several groups in Congress:
- Congressional Blockchain Caucus
- Freedom Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
Personal Life
Byron Donalds married Bisa Hall in 1999, and they divorced in 2002. He married Erika Lees in 2003. They have three sons and live in Naples, Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Byron Donalds para niños
