Byron Donalds
RepublicanU.S. Representative, FL-19| Age | 47 (b. 1978-10-28) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2021-01-03 (~5 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | Black/African American; of Jamaican and Panamanian heritage |
| Religion | Christian (evangelical) |
| Education | Graduated Nazareth Regional High School (Brooklyn) 1996; attended Florida A&M University, transferred to Florida State University, earning a B.S. in finance and marketing in 2002 |
| Prior occupation | Finance professional: credit analyst at TIB Bank, portfolio manager at CMG Surety LLC, and financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn (Crown Heights), New York |
| Marital status | Married — Erika Donalds (née Lees) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Naples, Florida |
| Notable relatives | Spouse Erika Donalds is a conservative education-policy activist who served on the Collier County School Board and Florida's 2017-18 Constitution Revision Commission, and leads education policy at the America First Policy Institute |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2016 |
| Previous offices | Florida House of Representatives, District 80 (2016-2020) |
| Committees | House Committee on Financial Services · House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform |
| Caucuses | House Freedom Caucus · Republican Study Committee · Congressional Blockchain Caucus |
| Party history | Formerly a Democrat; switched to the Republican Party in 2010 (associated with the Tea Party movement) |
| Ideology | Member of the House Freedom Caucus; aligned with the conservative/MAGA wing of the GOP. GovTrack ranked him among the most conservative (most politically right) House members based on 2024 legislative statistics. |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $1,527,064–$2,966,000 (2023) · estimate
| Optima Ed, LLC (spouse-owned, ~81% interest; education services company) | business_owned · $1,000,000 · 2023 |
| Onesto LLC (consulting and business services) | business_owned · $500,001–$1,000,000 · 2023 |
| FRS 2045 Retirement Fund | fund · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
Top industries: Retired
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Arrest and Pre-Trial Diversion: Marijuana Distribution (1997)
At age 18, Donalds was arrested on a misdemeanor marijuana distribution (or possession) charge in Leon County, Florida. He was allowed to enter a pre-trial diversion program, paid a $150 fine, and the charge was ultimately dismissed. Donalds later acknowledged publicly that he was also selling marijuana at the time, confirming accounts from his ex-wife.
resolved — No Contest Plea to Felony Bribery / Bank Fraud (2000)
At age 21 and attending Florida State University, Donalds was arrested on a second-degree felony bribery charge stemming from an alleged scheme to defraud a bank by depositing a bad check. He pleaded no contest, served probation, and paid restitution. The record was later sealed and then expunged after he entered the Florida state legislature. Under Florida law, Donalds was not legally required to disclose the expunged offense on subsequent applications.
resolved — Florida State Ethics Commission Complaint: False Statements on Board Applications (2020)
Former Collier County School Board member Kelly Lichter filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics alleging that Donalds falsely stated on a 2014 application to serve on the Florida SouthWestern State College board of trustees that he had never been 'arrested, charged, or indicted' in any jurisdiction, despite his 1997 marijuana arrest and 2000 bribery charge. The Commission dismissed the complaint as legally insufficient, consistent with Donalds's position that his expunged record did not need to be disclosed under Florida law.