Who is Bryan Ávila, Byron Donalds’ Lieutenant Governor Pick?
By Royal A. Brown III
Bryan Ávila seems like a smart choice by Byron Donald’s for his Lieutent Governor in the sunshine state.
Who is Bryan Ávila, Donalds’ lieutenant governor pick?
Bryan Ávila, a 42‑year‑old Republican state senator from Hialeah and Miami Springs, has been named by gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds as his running mate for lieutenant governor in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race
Background and Career
Ávila was born in Hialeah to Adrian and Rosa María Avila, who fled communist Cuba for the United States.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and later master’s degrees in criminal justice and public administration from Florida International University.
He entered the Florida House of Representatives in 2014, serving as Speaker pro tempore and chairing tax and budget committees. In 2022, he was elected to the Florida Senate, where he currently chairs the Committee on Finance and Tax. His legislative record includes sponsoring the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, pushing for property‑tax relief, and supporting measures to protect utility rates from large data centers.
Military Service
Ávila is a captain in the Florida Army National Guard, with deployments for hurricane recovery, command of multiple units, and pandemic support operations. Donalds cited his military service as a key reason for selecting him, highlighting his record as a “warrior for the country and for conservative values”.
Political Alignment and Messaging
Donalds and Ávila frame their ticket as a defense of Florida’s conservative legacy, affordability for working families, and community safety. Ávila has emphasized his Cuban exile parents’ experience fleeing socialism, using it to contrast with Democratic nominee David Jolly’s running mate, Gwen Graham.
Ávila also supports Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda, including recent legislation to require large data centers to pay for their own energy consumption.
Role in the 2026 Race
As lieutenant governor, Ávila will campaign alongside Donalds in the November general election, aiming to keep Florida red and build on DeSantis’ conservative platform. His combination of legislative experience, military service, and Cuban exile heritage is intended to appeal to both traditional Republican voters and those in pro‑military and Cuban‑heritage communities.
©2026 Royal A. Brown III. All rights reserved.
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