Tallahassee, FL — Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds today named State Sen. Bryan Avila, who has served in the Florida Legislature since 2014, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. At today’s announcement, Avila claimed to understand the affordability challenges facing Florida families, but his legislative record includes backing the 2022 property insurance overhaul that weakened homeowners’ ability to take insurers to court, supporting the expansion of Florida’s universal school voucher program, and sponsoring the Stop WOKE Act restricting certain instruction and workplace training related to race and sex discrimination.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried released the following statement:
“Bryan Avila stood on a stage today talking about how hard it is for families to afford their insurance premiums after helping pass laws that protected insurance companies instead of the people paying those premiums.
“Byron Donalds didn’t choose a running mate focused on solving Florida’s affordability crisis. He chose someone with the same priorities: culture wars and corporate giveaways while working families are left paying the price.
“Floridians need leaders focused on making this state more affordable. That’s what Democrats are offering this November, and it’s exactly what the Donalds-Avila ticket is not.”
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