Who is Byron Donalds? The latest Republican nominee for House speaker - The Washington Post

Opponents of GOP person Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) bid to go talker rallied to Donalds’s candidacy with a lasting ovation aft Roy noted the historical quality of the nomination. Democrats person nominated lawmaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is connected way to go the archetypal Black idiosyncratic to pb a enactment successful Congress.

Roy referred to civilian rights person Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” code portion nominating Donalds. And helium spoke of Donalds’s travel from increasing up successful Brooklyn arsenic a Democrat to being 1 of the fewer Black Republicans connected Capitol Hill.

“We bash not question to justice radical by the colour of their skin, but alternatively the contented of their character,” the Texan said. “Byron Donalds is simply a bully antheral raised by a azygous ma who moved past adversity, became a Christian antheral astatine the property of 21 and has devoted his beingness to advancing the origin for his household and his state and helium has done it admirably.”

Donalds, 44, has spoken often connected the run way astir adversities helium had to flooded arsenic a younger man, peculiarly being arrested for distributing marijuana arsenic an 18-year-old. Three years aboriginal helium was arrested and charged with bribery — a complaint that was aboriginal expunged.

“These were the actions of a young kid,” helium told a section Fox affiliate successful 2014. “I can’t undo that.”

“I can’t undo my mistakes,” Donalds added. “The lone happening I tin bash is amusement and go the antheral that I americium contiguous for my household and the assemblage that I love.”

The Florida State University postgraduate yet launched a vocation successful concern earlier getting progressive with authorities politics. Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) appointed Donalds to the committee of trustees of a authorities college, which helped summation his illustration successful the state’s Republican Party.

Donalds went connected to question a legislature spot for the archetypal clip successful 2012, 2 years aft becoming a Republican and getting progressive successful the beverage enactment movement. He was unsuccessful but was yet elected to the Florida legislature 4 years later.

He was archetypal elected to the House successful 2020 aft Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) retired from Congress.

Roy backed Donalds Wednesday to go talker due to the fact that helium said the United States needs a alteration successful enactment that is much reflective of the governmental diverseness of this country.

Donalds antecedently expressed his excitement astir the record-breaking fig of Black Republicans who ran for Congress successful the 2022 midterm elections.

“What you’re seeing with these Black candidates is that we recognize nationalist policy, we recognize the Constitution, we enactment regularisation of law, we enactment constricted government,” Donalds told The Post. “And I deliberation what you’re uncovering successful immoderate of these areas is we besides hap to beryllium the champion campaigner successful the field.”

Since coming to Congress, Donalds has made headlines defending the GOP — and erstwhile president Donald Trump — from accusations of racism. He often criticized wide lawmakers — and specifically the Congressional Black Caucus — for its stances connected radical matters.

“As a Black antheral successful America, I’m allowed to person my ain thoughts connected who I take to enactment and who I take not to support,” helium antecedently told CNN portion discussing his refusal to judge the results of the 2020 statesmanlike election. “My enactment of President Trump has been consistent, but astatine the aforesaid time, I’ve had the quality to advocator for issues, ideas, proposals and backing that person helped the Black assemblage successful my state.”