OPINION:
Before President Trump, politics were rather predictable. Though there were never any absolute guarantees, there were definitive do’s and don’ts — rules to follow for candidates to more easily march toward electoral victory or risk total implosion.
But Mr. Trump’s ascension on the political scene essentially rewrote the playbook, as his unconventional measures often bucked and stretched tradition in ways previously unseen.
The effect has been a bit of an electoral conundrum as the antics and prerequisites for candidates are far less certain than they once were, paving the way for some fascinating showdowns and intriguing candidates on both sides of the aisle.
And, indeed, new and unique contenders continue to emerge. Meanwhile, despite Mr. Trump’s past legal troubles, his second White House win has reinvigorated his political prowess and sway, leading some candidates and politicians to lean deeper into partnership with him.
Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican who is running for Florida governor, is among the politicians unafraid to align with Mr. Trump. A banner at the top of his 2026 gubernatorial campaign website boldly proclaims “Endorsed by Trump.”
But who is Mr. Donalds — and what does he believe? The third-term congressman told CBN News in a recent interview that he’s on a mission to help fix the issues he sees plaguing the political scene.
“I could be political and just tell everybody what they want to hear, but I’m not in this for politics,” he said. “I’m in this to put the country in the right spot.”
Mr. Donalds has been passionate about overhauling education, defending Mr. Trump’s record and delivering on conservative messaging in the media — so much so that he was reportedly at one point last year floated as an option to be Mr. Trump’s running mate.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Mr. Donalds, though, isn’t his policy positions or rhetoric, but his backstory. Raised by a single mother in New York City, he told CBN’s David Brody that his mom “really believed” in him and what he could accomplish.
She was a New York City public school teacher and administrator who felt her son wasn’t being challenged in the public school system. So she and his grandmother worked hard to send him to private schools. School choice, thus, became a passion issue for Mr. Donalds and his wife, Erika, who has long been an advocate and expert in that area.
Years before Mr. Donalds’ success, though, he, like many young people, hit snags in life, finding himself in legal trouble over marijuana and purportedly depositing a bad check. He was arrested for weed possession in 1997 and was charged for the check incident in 2000.
The first charges were dropped and the latter were expunged. And rather than avoid discussing these errors or take the traditional political route of trying to bury them, Mr. Donalds told Mr. Brody he’s “not proud” of his mistakes — and offered a refreshing perspective.
“In life, it’s not really how you fall down,” Mr. Donalds said. “It’s how you get up.”
The politician is also deeply faithful, explaining how his journey to Christianity started at the behest of his now-wife when the two were dating and she encouraged him to go to church.
Mr. Donalds’ spiritual journey fully clicked one day while he was rolling silverware at a Cracker Barrel. He had just served a table filled with church members and was thinking about the Lord.
“It was a table of 12,” Mr. Donalds said during a 2023 speech. “They were coming from a revival — and they were great.”
After he interacted with the church group, he felt God was delivering a deeper message — one he needed to heed.
“The Lord spoke to me,” Mr. Donalds said. “It was like, ’Stop running from Me.’ And so, it just knocked me back. So I went out to find the table, and they were all gone, and I could see through the windows that they were getting on their bus. So I walked out. My manager’s like, ’Where are you going?’ I need a second. I walk out there. The last lady’s getting on the bus, and she goes, ’Yo, man, you OK?’ And I go, ’No, ma’am, I’m not OK.’ She goes, ’what?’ And I go, ’The Lord is telling me to stop running.’”
The church members, who were already on their bus and ready to go, started leaving the bus after Mr. Donalds walked up to them. And they approached him and started to pray.
“They pour out of the bus, and they all pray over me,” he said. “And I gave my life to Christ in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel.”
From there, his life took off, and he began finding successes in finance, won a seat in Florida’s House of Representatives, and was eventually elected to Congress.
But, despite his political successes, he said it’s the faith he found in that parking lot that continues to propel him forward. It’s a theme he often discusses on social media and in his speeches.
“As long as we have pride in our beliefs, courage in our convictions and faith in our God, then we WILL NOT FAIL,” he wrote in a 2024 message on X, sharing a video defending Mr. Trump. “Together, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
Now, Mr. Donalds is relying on God as he navigates his next steps in his quest to become Florida’s next governor. Mr. Trump’s endorsement seems to be invigorating Mr. Donalds’ current chances, but only time will tell if he’ll end up leading the Sunshine State.
Regardless, his story of perseverance and his uncommon approach to politics is just the latest example of the shifts that could deliver some truly intriguing political leaders.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.
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