40 Florida rabbis endorse Byron Donalds for governor

A coalition of 40 rabbis representing Jewish communities in 17 Florida cities endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds for governor on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

The open letter highlighted Donalds' record confronting antisemitism, championing school choice and supporting Israel, signaling strong backing from the state’s Jewish leaders as the November 3 election approaches.

“Florida has become a place where Jewish families can build their lives, practice their faith, educate their children, and raise the next generation with confidence and without living in constant fear,” the rabbis wrote.

Donald’s response to a town‑hall question from Florida Atlantic University Jewish students illustrated his stance: “Antisemitism will never be tolerated on college campuses.” The rabbis also praised his legislative efforts to expand scholarship programs and give parents greater freedom to choose how their children are educated, noting that his and his wife Erika’s advocacy for school choice has helped Jewish families access faith‑based schools.

Support for Israel featured prominently in the endorsement. The rabbis cited Donalds' defense of the Jewish state during the 2021 Hamas rocket attacks, his condemnation of antisemitic attacks on American Jews, and his reaffirmation of solidarity on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, when he declared, “Florida will ALWAYS stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.”

Lisa Spies, the Donalds campaign’s director of Jewish outreach, said the signatories are “prominent religious leaders who share the congressman’s priorities,” emphasizing that Donalds “stood with the Jewish community and with Israel when it mattered most.” Campaign surrogate Bryan E. Leib added a light‑hearted note, joking, “It’s hard to get two rabbis to agree on anything, and 40 of them just agreed on Byron Donalds.”

Donald, who captured the Republican gubernatorial nomination in August and carries former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, now faces Democratic nominee David Jolly in the November general election.

The rabbis concluded their letter by urging continued collaboration to keep Florida a safe, welcoming home for Jewish families, underscoring the political weight of their endorsement as the campaign enters its final stretch.