Donalds Picks Pro-Israel Sen. Avila as FL Running Mate

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Byron Donalds has tapped Florida state Sen. Bryan Avila, a Miami-Dade Republican and son of Cuban exiles, as his running mate, the Donalds campaign announced Tuesday, in a move designed to shore up support among conservative, Hispanic and pro-Israel voters ahead of next year's election.

The U.S. congressman unveiled his pick for lieutenant governor at a rally inside Miami's historic Freedom Tower, a building long associated with the story of Cuban refugees fleeing communism, according to the campaign's announcement. Donalds described Avila as a staunch conservative, a military officer and a public servant whose family story embodies the experience of those who escaped Fidel Castro's regime, the campaign said.

Avila, who has represented parts of Miami-Dade County in Tallahassee, has built a reputation as one of the Legislature's most dependable conservative votes. The campaign highlighted his record on pro-Israel policy and his longstanding relationships within South Florida's Jewish community as key reasons for the selection, framing the ticket as one that can unify Florida's broad conservative coalition — from Cuban-American voters wary of socialism to Jewish voters focused on Israel's security.

The choice reflects a deliberate strategy by Donalds to consolidate the same coalition that has powered Republican dominance in Florida in recent election cycles: anti-communist Hispanic exile communities, evangelical and Jewish voters who prioritize a hardline pro-Israel stance, and grassroots conservatives who back strong national-security credentials. By pairing himself with a Miami-Dade lawmaker whose family fled communist Cuba, Donalds is betting on a message that resonates deeply in South Florida, where memories of authoritarian rule remain fresh for many immigrant families.

The timing is notable given the broader national landscape, where pro-Israel Republicans have increasingly sought to distinguish themselves from progressive Democrats who have grown more openly critical of Israel amid its ongoing war against Hamas terrorists. Florida Republicans have positioned the state as one of the most reliably pro-Israel in the nation, and Avila's addition to the ticket is being read by campaign allies as reinforcing that brand at a moment when Israel continues to face threats on multiple fronts, including from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian-backed proxies across the region.

Avila's military background and his family's personal history with communist oppression are expected to feature prominently in the campaign's messaging as it seeks to draw contrasts with Democratic contenders on issues ranging from crime and border security to foreign policy. Republican strategists in the state have long emphasized that Florida's large exile and immigrant communities respond strongly to candidates who can speak credibly about the dangers of authoritarian regimes, a message Donalds appears eager to leverage by putting Avila front and center.

Neither Donalds nor Avila has yet laid out a detailed joint policy platform beyond the framing offered at Tuesday's rally, and further specifics on their agenda for education, taxes and public safety are expected to roll out as the campaign progresses. The Florida gubernatorial race is shaping up to be closely watched nationally, with Republicans hoping to maintain their grip on the governor's mansion in a state that has become a bellwether for conservative governance.

As the race heats up, the Donalds-Avila ticket is likely to lean heavily into its pro-Israel credentials and anti-communist messaging, particularly as tensions in the Middle East continue to dominate headlines and as Republicans nationally seek to draw sharp contrasts with what they characterize as a Democratic Party drifting away from steadfast support for the Jewish state.