Who is Byron Donalds? The Republican challenging McCarthy for House speaker
Meet the Florida congressman who has emerged as the leading challenger to Kevin McCarthy
Donalds, a conservative Republican, has been a vocal critic of McCarthy and has vowed to fight for conservative values.
The 20 Republicans opposing Representative Kevin McCarthy of California for the House speakership have coalesced for now at least around Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.
Donalds, a conservative Republican, has been a vocal critic of McCarthy and has vowed to fight for conservative values. He is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans who have often opposed McCarthy's leadership.
Donalds has said that he is running for speaker because he believes that McCarthy is not conservative enough. He has also said that he believes that the Republican Party needs to move in a more conservative direction.
McCarthy is the favorite to win the speakership, but Donalds' challenge could make the race more competitive. If Donalds can win the support of a majority of Republicans, he would become the first Black speaker of the House.
The race for speaker is expected to be decided on January 3, 2023, when the new Congress convenes.
Donalds' challenge to McCarthy is a sign of the growing divide within the Republican Party. The party is increasingly divided between its conservative and moderate wings, and Donalds' challenge could make it more difficult for McCarthy to unite the party behind his leadership.
Comments