Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate vying to become Florida’s next governor, has selected State Sen. Bryan Avila, a Cuban American from Hialeah, as his running mate. Donalds, 47, made the announcement at a news conference held at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami, late Tuesday morning. “Thank for your friendship, and thank you for your leadership,” Avila said to Donalds. In a statement, Donalds praised Avila as “a proven conservative, a dedicated public servant, a military officer, and most importantly, a husband and father who understands exactly what is at stake for Florida families.” Avila, 42, was born and raised in Hialeah to Cuban parents who immigrated to the United States. He pointed out the significance of having this news conference at the Freedom Tower, a place that once welcomed thousands of Cuban refugees. “My parents came to America seeking something very special to each and every one of us: freedom. For me, it’s an honor to be here, at the Freedom Tower, because this is the beacon of freedom,” he said. Avila, a father of two, graduated from Miami Springs Senior High School and served as an Army National Guard captain before he was elected to the Florida House in 2014 and to the State Senate in 2022. At the news conference, Donalds pointed to his running mate’s conservative record, including his work on taxes, education and public safety. “He has relentlessly fought excessive property taxes, he has delivered toll relief, he has cut everyday costs, and he has protected families from high utility bills from data centers,” said Donalds. Avila said his family’s story is at the heart of his political beliefs. “I’ll tell you this: With Byron Donald as governors and me as your lieutenant governor, socialism will never find a home in the great state of Florida,” he said. Tuesday’s news conference takes place one week after Donalds’ decisive Republican primary victory. Now with the Republican ticket set, he and Avila are promising to campaign on lower taxes, affordability, education, parental rights and a business-friendly economy. “We are going to make government work for the taxpayer and not the other way around,” said Avila. And, the Republican candidates said, their goal is to build on what they call “the Florida Dream”. “Who are you going to trust? Somebody who has to wait for a staffer to give him a memo about what’s happening in the economy, or somebody whose career is actually built in the real world and wants to fix the affordability issues for the people of Florida?” said Donalds Donalds and Avila will be facing off in November against Democratic candidate David Jolly and his running mate, former U.S. Rep Gwen Graham. Jolly issued a statement on Tuesday’s annoumcement, writing: “I congratulate former State Senator Byron Avila on his selection as a Republican lieutenant governor nominee. I wish him well, but let’s be honest: This race won’t come down to Byron Donalds’ relationship with Avila. It will come down to his relationship with Donald Trump.” ...read more read less