At AmericaFest, Rep. Byron Donalds urged conservatives to respond to 2025 election setbacks by prioritizing policy delivery, disciplined messaging and aggressive voter outreach rather than infighting. He cited Democratic turnout in recent races — including a Miami holiday runoff — as a reminder that mobilization wins elections. Donalds praised youth engagement at the event, credited Charlie Kirk for building that base, and said he has key endorsements as he eyes a run to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Byron Donalds Urges Mission-Focused Conservatism at AmericaFest After 2025 Setbacks
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks in Hollywood, Florida.
Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds told a packed crowd at AmericaFest that conservatives should respond to recent 2025 electoral setbacks by redoubling policy work, sharpening voter outreach, and avoiding internal divisions.
Addressing concerns about congressional gridlock and the failure to pass some conservative priorities despite a Republican-majority legislature, Donalds emphasized results over rhetoric. "It's about what you actually get done," he said, arguing that translating philosophy into measurable outcomes is what ultimately brings voters to the polls.
Focus On The Mission
"Look, we have disagreements, that's all well and good. We’ve got to be focused on the mission in front of us. We got to be focused on what's actually going to get voters to the polls and making sure that they turn out to vote." — Byron Donalds
Donalds cautioned against complacency after the 2024 presidential victory, saying conservatives cannot "rest on their laurels." He pointed to energized Democratic turnout in recent contests — including races in Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Miami — as evidence that Republicans must keep working on the ground-level mechanics of campaigns: messaging, direct voter contact, and get-out-the-vote operations.
Lessons From Miami
On the Miami mayoral race, Donalds noted the difficulty of a runoff held close to the holidays and framed the loss as a reminder that timing and turnout matters. He also observed local political dynamics in Miami, mentioning that Xavier Suarez — once a Democratic mayor who later became a Republican — is the father of outgoing mayor Francis Suarez.
"One, you had a runoff election a couple weeks before Christmas. Those are very tough elections to turn people out. And this is why we have to be mission-minded on the nuts and bolts of what campaigns are," Donalds said, stressing that policy coherence combined with disciplined voter outreach will determine future success.
Youth Energy And Party Unity
Donalds praised the thousands of young attendees at AmericaFest and credited Charlie Kirk’s work in building a youth-oriented conservative movement. He warned against "pettiness and silly divisions," urging Republicans to unite after primaries and concentrate on winning elections to institutionalize their agenda.
Political Ambitions And Endorsements
Asked about his own gubernatorial prospects as he positions himself to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, Donalds said his campaign is "going incredibly well," and that he has secured endorsements from former President Donald Trump, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and other prominent Republican lawmakers. He emphasized the need to contrast records and policies during primaries and then reunite the party for the general election.
Fox News Digital's Paul Mitchell Picasso contributed to this report.
