Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) announced Tuesday that state Sen. Bryan Ávila (R) will be his running mate in the Florida gubernatorial race. The announcement was made at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami, following Donalds' victory in the Republican primary last week. Donalds described Ávila as a "proven warrior" and cited his legislative record regarding taxes and costs.
The selection adds a veteran state legislator to the Republican ticket. Ávila, who has represented Florida’s 39th Senate district since November 2022, previously served as the speaker pro tempore of the Florida House. He is the son of Cuban immigrants and a captain in the Florida Army National Guard. At the event, Ávila stated that serving on the ticket was an "incredible honor."
The Republican pairing will compete against former Rep. David Jolly, a Republican-turned-Democrat who secured the Democratic nomination last week. Jolly’s running mate is former Rep. Gwen Graham (D-Fla.), who served as an assistant Education secretary in the Biden administration. Donalds criticized the opposing ticket as "uninspiring" during his Tuesday remarks.
The outcome of the general election will determine the leadership of a state that has shifted from a battleground to a Republican stronghold under current Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Since 1994, no Democrat has won a gubernatorial race in Florida. The eventual winner will oversee a state government that has recently seen wide margins of victory, such as the 20-point win by DeSantis in 2022. For Florida residents, the result will impact state-level policy on taxes, education, and spending, as both tickets have presented distinct legislative priorities during the early stages of the campaign.
What happens next: Following the conclusion of the primary last week, the candidates now move toward the general election. While the source does not specify the exact date of the general election or the deadline for final ballot certification, the race is now set between the Donalds-Ávila and Jolly-Graham tickets. Voters can expect a series of campaign events across the state as the candidates contest a seat held by Republicans for three decades. Both campaigns have begun framing the race around their respective records in Congress and the state legislature.