Byron, Erika Donalds endorse Yvette Benarroch in HD 81
Yvette Benarroch. Imave via campaign.

Benarroch
The Marco Island Republican is seeking an open state House seat in Collier County.

Moms For Liberty leader Yvette Benarroch wants to bring her agenda to Tallahassee representing House District 81. Now, she boasts the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and school choice advocate Erika Donalds.

“I am delighted and honored to have the support of Byron and Erika Donalds,” Benarroch said. “Byron and Erika Donalds are true conservatives who fight every day for our community. I will take that same fight to Tallahassee to stand up for my community and our conservative values.”

The support from the Donaldses, a political power couple in Collier County, provides a significant lift for Benarroch, a Marco Island Republican.

Byron Donalds previously represented Collier County in the state House before his 2020 election to Congress. He has since become one of the most prominent members of the Florida congressional delegation, and was a contender for Speaker of the House in a leadership shake-up earlier this month.

“The one thing I know about Yvette, and the reason I am honored to endorse her for State Representative for District 81, is because I know that win or lose, she’s not stopping,” he said.

“You have to make sure you send conservatives who are committed to the right things for this country, who are committed to making sure that the continuation of what has made Florida the best state in the Union continues. It’s not just sending somebody. It is sending your very, very best, and I have no doubts that the very, very best for District 81 is Yvette Benarroch.”

Erika Donalds also boasts significant clout in the region. The founder and CEO of Optima Ed, she previously served on the Collier County School Board and has been one of Florida’s most prominent school choice advocates for a decade. She now serves on the advisory board for Moms For Liberty, where Benarroch serves as Collier County Chair.

“I believe in Yvette so much. She gets things done. She’s loyal to our Party. But most of all, she values the things that we value,” Erika Donalds said.

“Her core principles are that of America First. It’s all about conservatism. It’s about doing the right thing. She is a virtuous woman. A virtuous American. She is a patriot and veteran. She is a Get It Done Girl, and how much better it will be when we have a Get It Done Girl in the state legislature getting things done for us on behalf of our community and our Constitution,”

Benarroch faces Marco Island City Council Chair Greg Folley in a Republican Primary. To date, only Republicans have filed for the race to succeed state Rep. Bob Rommel, a Naples Republican.

“I will fight for parental rights and school choice. I will fight to create good jobs, cut regulations, and lower insurance rates,” Benarroch said. “And I will always fight against illegal immigration. I am a mom, veteran, and small business owner. I see the challenges facing our community because I live them every day. I will always fight for you in Tallahassee.”

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


2 comments

  • Earl Pitts "Earl Knows Best" American

    November 1, 2023 at 7:58 am

    Good Mornting America,
    If Byron and Erika endorse Yvette you too can relax and vote for Yvette secure in the knowledge that Byron and Erika have done the hard work for you of properly vetting Yvette.
    In fact I, Earl Pitts Amrican, am also adding my personall all powerfull endorsement for Yvette.
    What that means is that thousands of former Dook 4 Brains Lefty’s & RINO’s which I, Earl Pitts American, personally converted to true blue American Conservative Patriots will also be sending donations to Yvette and of course supporting her with their votes too.
    You are welcome Yvette and American Patriots,
    Earl Pitts Anerican
    *FREE BUMPER STICKER*
    *EARL SAYS “VOTE YVETTE*

  • Brandy Alexander

    November 12, 2023 at 1:02 am

    I wonder how someone like Donalds who used to be a Democrat can really be taken seriously concerning any issues of “endorsement”. Someone who has not always been a Republican. Just like someone helping you buy a dress that only recently started wearing them after their gender conversion. Donalds has a smoke screen in place, criminal history expunged, now he’s endorses Yvette for Florida House District 81, a woman whose own husband was charged with stealing from Collier County constituents, no less, during a global pandemic. Yvette was the registered “owner” of that business (landscape) when the theft occurred and STILL owns and operates that very same landscape company. Can’t Collier County do any better for themselves? I mean seriously. And Erica Donalds, that would be an altogether non-entity in the realm of politics. She was not elected to anything so what does it matter what she does or says about political endorsements. This is the first “member of Congress” who felt the necessity to take his “Karen” along with him to work. NOT INTERESTED in what she has to say AT ALL. CAN A COMMUNITY THAT HOLDS SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MINDS IN THE WORLD, CHOOSE A LITTLE MORE WISELY IN THEIR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES. CAN WE MAKE BETTER, SMARTER, MORE SOUND DECISIONS AS TO WHO WE ELECT TO REPRESENT US AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL? HOW ABOUT SOMEONE WITH SOME REAL EDUCATION, OR A REAL BUSINESS OWNER, WHO DIDN’T EVER BREAK ANY LAWS. COME ON COLLIER COUNTY WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS. I REALIZE THAT ONLY A FEW INDIVIDUALS WANT TO ENTER INTO THE DIRTY WORLD OF POLITICS, MOST OF THEM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER GOING FOR THEM, BUT LET’S AT LEAST TRY TO ELECT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRUE REPUBLICANS, TO THEIR CORE. INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE RAISED RIGHT AND CONTINUE RIGHT, WITHOUT HESITATION, WITHOUT FLAILING BACK AND FORTH. REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REPUBLICAN AND WILL ALWAYS BE REPUBLICAN. FIRM IN THEIR BELIEFS. WE SHOULDN’T WONDER WHY CONGRESS AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL/POLITICAL BODIES ARE CORRUPT OR BROKEN, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK INTO HOW MANY OF ITS MEMBERS ARE CORRUPT, BROKEN, FORMERLY NON-LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. LOOK UP THE STATISTICS, YOU MIGHT BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZED. ELECT CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS TO CORRUPT BODIES AND ENJOY THE CHAOS OR BROKEN GOVERNMENT AND POLICIES. IF WE WANT CHANGE IN TALLAHASEE AND WASHINGTON D.C., WE NEED TO CHANGE WHO WE ARE ELECTING. LET’S CONSIDER PREHAPS INDIVIDUALS WITH “CLEAN” RECORDS IN BUSINESS AND THE REAL WORLD. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF OR CONTEMPLATED DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL. WOULDN’T THAT BE A BETTER SHOT AT SUCCESS FOR US. THINK ABOUT THIS WHEN REVIEWING THE “TRUE STORY” BEHIND A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE … WOULD YOU HIRE THEM TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY KNOWING THEY ARE A POSSIBLE RISK TO YOU. THAT THEY MAY STEAL FROM YOU OR THAT THEY MIGHT BE TELLING YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AT THEIR INTERVIEW AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY REALLY THINK OR WOULD YOU RATHER ELECT A STRONG LINK TO BE ADDED TO YOUR COMPANY. SOMEONE WHO BRINGS WITH THEM, NOT A WRAP SHEET BUT SOLID ASSETS TO THE TRUE NORTH OF YOUR COMPANY. SELECTION IN POLITICS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE OF RISK MANAGEMENT TO THE VOTER. LIMIT YOUR RISK AND REAP THE REWARDS. VOTE FOR THE SOLID, COMMITTED, HONEST AND RELIABLE CANDIDATE. LET’S MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES IN 2024. VOTE RIGHT, VOTE WELL, VOTE ETHICAL, VOTE LAW-ABIDING. NO BULLIES, NO THIEVES, NO LIARS, NO ACTORS, JUST THE REAL MCCOY.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories