Byron Donalds
Florida holds Israeli government bonds and Donalds opposes divesting them, his primary rival's signature demand. Asked about continuing U.S. military aid to that government, he said Israel "will remain our ally in the Middle East. That is non-negotiable".
Donalds represents a Florida district in the U.S. House and is running for governor. This is one of the few races where the subject is a live argument between candidates rather than a question nobody is asking.
The argument is about state money. A rival in his primary has pledged to direct Florida's agencies and public universities to sell their Israeli government bonds, which that campaign puts at roughly $385 million. Donalds has taken the other side. At a campaign event he said "Israel is our ally. That is not going to change", and that "Anybody, in my opinion, who is trying to sever the relationship between the Israelis and the United States is acting, quite frankly, in the interest of the Iranian regime."
On the federal question he has been just as plain. Asked at an event in Naples about continuing military aid, he said Israel "is our ally in the Middle East. They will remain our ally in the Middle East. That is non-negotiable". His recorded votes match: for the packages that sent military aid to the government of Israel, and against the amendments that would have cut it. His own newsletter says "It is imperative that the United States stands firmly in support of our ally Israel as they face existential attacks from the mullahs of Iran and their terrorist proxies."
Nothing located from him addresses U.S. aid to Palestinians in its own right, and his campaign's own issues page does not mention any of this: seven priorities, none of them Israel, foreign aid or state investment.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
State money and state action toward the government of Israel
- [Position, 2026-05-08] At a campaign engagement reported by The Floridian: "Israel is our ally. That is not going to change." And: "Anybody, in my opinion, who is trying to sever the relationship between the Israelis and the United States is acting, quite frankly, in the interest of the Iranian regime." The outlet reports he "has opposed removing investments in Israeli bonds". The date is the publication date, disclosed as such: the article places the remarks in that week.
- [Position, 2026-08-12, carrier refuses us] He is reported to have defended Florida's investment in Israeli bonds against calls for divestment in a podcast interview, arguing the bonds return well for the state pension fund's retirees. The report is at https://floridapolitics.com/archives/813335-byron-donalds-backs-israeli-bonds/, and that host refuses both of our routes, so nothing from it is quoted. It is the most recent item on this record.
- [Context, 2025-12-29] The divestment demand he is answering: Algemeiner reports his rival's campaign putting Florida state and university Israel Bonds holdings at about $385 million and pledging divestment on day one. The $385 million is that campaign's figure as reported, not an audit.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-02-23] At a fundraising event in Naples where the question of funding Israel was put to candidates, The Floridian quotes him: "Israel is our ally in the Middle East. They will remain our ally in the Middle East. That is non-negotiable." Opened and confirmed word for word, and checked against the rest of the piece: the article carries answers from several other candidates for his House seat, and none of their words is used here.
- [Position, 2024 to 2026] The six recorded votes shown on this card, each cross-checked against the Clerk of the House roll call, for example H.R. 8034 and the 2026 amendment vote. Four Yeas on Israel supplemental measures; two Nos on amendments that would have cut money. Not re-listed in prose.
- [Position, 2025-07-18] Voted against H.Amdt.55, which would have struck funding for the Israeli Cooperative Programs; it failed 6 to 422.
- [Position, 2026-07-15] Voted against H.Amdt.235, to bar the bill's funds from being used for Israel and cut $3.3 billion from the Foreign Military Financing account; it failed 104 to 314.
- [Position, 2024-04-23] His official Weekly Wrap-Up newsletter: "It is imperative that the United States stands firmly in support of our ally Israel as they face existential attacks from the mullahs of Iran and their terrorist proxies."
- [Position, 2024-04-18] Fox Business interview on the foreign assistance packages, in which he says the United States needs to take care of Israel. A video page; the text recovered is a summary rather than a transcript, so nothing is quoted from it.
- [Earlier record, 2021-05-24] Constituent newsletter: "As our closest ally in the Middle East, and one of our strongest allies worldwide, Israel, continues to defend itself from rockets coming from Hamas, I stand proudly in support of Israel."
- [Earlier record, 2020-12-10] Jewish News Syndicate interview as a representative-elect, calling the relationship the most important in the region, and saying of Florida's law barring state investment in companies that boycott the government of Israel: "It's something that all Americans and all members of Congress should agree on. The federal government should do the same thing."
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- Nothing located. He has not addressed the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees or humanitarian funding for Gaza in anything found in either pass.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2024-10-07] Statement on the first anniversary of the attack, calling for the release of all hostages held in Gaza.
- [Position, 2025-04-22] At a town hall in Estero he defended Israeli military operations in exchanges with constituents. The carriers offered are video pages returning about thirty words of shell, so nothing is quoted.
- [Reaction window, 2023-10-07] His statement on the day of the attack. The carrier this record cites, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/638304-stand-with-israel-florida-politicians-react-to-hamas-attack/, refuses both of our routes, so it is written out rather than linked. Off the card (C1) in any case.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2025-05-12] Visited the Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami and spoke about supporting Israel.
- [Position, 2025-04-03] Received the Zionist Organization of America's Robert Kasowitz Outstanding Patriot and Pro-Israel Congressman Award at its Florida gala (release). An award, not an endorsement: the word endorse appears nowhere on the page.
- [Position, 2026-07-24] A critical essay about his record on this subject opens and is listed so a reader can see what was read. It is commentary, not a source of fact, and nothing is taken from it.
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee lifetime support of $17,900 and Republican Jewish Coalition lifetime support of $5,488.95 are badges on this card and are not restated.
- [Position, read 2026-07-27] Negative finding: his campaign issues page lists seven priorities and mentions Israel, foreign aid, divestment, boycotts and bonds nowhere. His endorsements page carries no group in this area.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2024-05-02] Statement on federal antisemitism legislation, arguing federal efforts should mirror Florida's 2019 statute while protecting constitutional rights.
- [Position, 2024-05-01] Visited a protest encampment at George Washington University with House colleagues, covered by Anadolu Agency and the campus paper.
- [Position, 2024-05-17] Introduced a resolution to strip federal funding from universities that fail to protect Jewish students; The Floridian covered it.
- [Position, 2025-10-07] Marked the second anniversary of the attack by setting out his antisemitism work.
- Context, not an answer on what the United States sends.
Race and status context
- Sitting U.S. Representative for a Florida district, running in the Republican primary for governor, per Ballotpedia.
- Five other candidates in this race have their own cards in this batch.
Also in this race: Dean Abrams (Other), Kathy Anderson (Other), Charles Burkett (Other), Jeffrey Datto (Other), David DeJesus (Other), Richard Dembinsky (Other), Moliere Dimanche (Other), Scott Jewett (Libertarian), David Jolly (Democrat), Desmond Meade (Other), Erik Morris (Other), Frank Russo (Other) · All Florida candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.