Byron Donalds, Republican candidate for governor of Florida backed by President Donald Trump, announced this Tuesday that Cuban-American state senator Bryan Ávila will be his running mate for the elections on November 3, where he will face off against Democrat David Jolly.
The event took place at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami, a deliberately symbolic setting: this building served as the Cuban Refugee Center from 1962 to 1974, where hundreds of thousands of Cubans fleeing Fidel Castro's regime received assistance upon arriving in the United States. It is known as the "Ellis Island of the South."
A son of the Cuban exile in the formula
Ávila, 42 years old, was born and raised in Hialeah, the son of Cuban exiles who left the island, leaving behind their home and business.
“My parents fled communist Cuba and left behind their home and business. Because they knew what happens when the government takes control. When freedom disappears and when socialism turns opportunity into misery,” he said.
Ávila also emphasized the chosen location for the announcement: "For me, it is an honor to be here at the Tower of Freedom, because this is the beacon of freedom. My parents, like many of you, found that liberty here in the great state of Florida."
And he made a commitment before the audience: “Socialism — I know where that path leads. Our families have lived it. I can assure you this: with Byron Donalds as governor and me as lieutenant governor, socialism will never find a home in the great state of Florida.”
What Donalds said about his election
On his X account, Donalds described Ávila with these words.
"Bryan Ávila is a military officer and a dedicated public servant who has spent his career fighting to defend freedom and reduce costs. He is also the son of Cuban exiles—this is a man who understands the Florida Dream and why we must defend it. I am proud to have him by my side."
During the event, he expanded on that portrait: "Bryan is a conservative fighter with over a decade in the Florida legislature achieving real results. He has fought against woke ideology, sponsored the Stop WOKE Act, championing merit, individual freedom, and dismantling divisive agendas of diversity, equity, and inclusion."
Regarding the difference with the Democratic rival, Donalds was emphatic: “Jolly and Gwen Graham answer to the Democratic Socialists of America. We answer to the people of Florida.”
Ávila's trajectory in Tallahassee
Ávila arrived at the State House of Representatives in 2014 and remained there until 2022, the year he was elected unopposed to the Florida Senate, where he represents District 39, which includes areas of Miami-Dade.
In his final years in the Chamber, he held the position of president pro tempore and was the main sponsor of the Stop WOKE Act.
In the Senate, he/she chairs the Finance and Taxation Committee and is the vice chair of the Transportation Committee.
In addition to his legislative work, he holds the rank of captain in the Florida Army National Guard, having commanded troops during hurricanes and state emergencies. He also serves as an educator and academic dean.
The strategic bet in Miami-Dade
The inclusion of Ávila responds to a clear electoral logic: to strengthen the candidacy among Hispanic voters in South Florida, especially in Miami-Dade, the most populous county in the state.
Donalds won the Republican primary on August 18 with approximately 47.8% of the votes. The November contest will determine the successor to Governor Ron DeSantis, who is ineligible to run for a third consecutive term.
Cuba has been a central focus in Donald's campaign: the candidate has referred to the Cuban government as a "brutal and murderous communist dictatorship" and has promised to support Trump's and Rubio's pressure policies regarding the island.
If the Donalds-Ávila formula succeeds in November, the gubernatorial candidate would become the first Black governor of Florida and potentially the first elected Black Republican governor in the history of the United States.
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