As U.S. House Republicans continue their search for a speaker Tuesday — now going on three weeks — Southwest Florida Republican Byron Donalds says he has plenty of experience to fill the position.
Donalds is one of now seven Republicans who are vying for the U.S. House speakership (there were eight at the beginning of the day, but Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer announced early on Tuesday on X that he was withdrawing from the race).
Speaking to reporters on Monday night, Donalds responded to comments that he is too inexperienced to become the next speaker because he is only in his second term in Congress.
“I spent 20 years in the business community,” Donalds said.” I actually was a member of our state Legislature. I’ve chaired committees. I know the legislative process. I’ve worked with our colleagues up here to get a lot of policies,” according to C-SPAN video.
He also added that “we have a lot of talent in our leadership team, and in this body. It’s not about one person. It’s about all of our members, collectively.”
When asked what his pitch will be to his fellow Republicans, Donalds said, “We need to get back to work, secure our border, fund our government responsibly, and hold this administration accountable. And last but not least, we’ve got to be focused on purpose and mission.”
Donalds also was asked if he had spoken with former President Donald Trump, and would he accept his endorsement for the position?
“I spoke to the president,” Donalds said at the C-SPAN video. “I think the president is going to watch us through our process. I think he’s going to be happy with who’s going to be the next speaker of the House. And I think that’s what’s going to happen. I love the president. He has supported me. Of course, I’ve endorsed him, but right now this is going to be a process of and by the members.”
Trump said Monday night that he’s staying out of the race, for now anyway.
“I’m staying above it. I have to right now,” Trump said, according to CBS News. “But I’ve spoken to just about all the candidates, there are quite a few of them. And they’re terrific people.”
Donalds has at least five votes from the Florida Republican congressional delegation: Mario Diaz-Balart, Cory Mills, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Gimenez and Michael Waltz, with Gimenez and Waltz announcing their support for Donalds on Monday.
He also picked up the endorsement of Texas Rep. Chip Roy on Monday night. Roy had been a staunch supporter of Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who lost his bid for the speakership in a third round of voting last Friday.
“The American people deserve to win again,” Roy said in a written statement. “They deserve someone who can finish the job that we started back in January. They deserve a change and Byron Donalds is the man to deliver that change.”
If he were to win the Speaker’s race, Donalds would make history by becoming the first Black man to lead the U.S. House of Representatives.
This article originally appeared in florida phoenix