Donalds, Banyai look for last-minute support, feel confident about District 19 bids

We spoke to the Republic and Democratic nominees for U.S House Florida District 19 Monday, as both candidates look to gain last-minute support amid early voting and heading into Election Day.

Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat Cindy Banyai were recently firing shots at each other online, and Donalds is back in public on the campaign trail after he recovered from the coronavirus.

Monday was Donalds’ first day out of the house in two weeks after contracting COVID-19.

“I did a couple Facebook LIVES,” Donalds said. “They were raw. They were raw and uncut. Did a couple of those. But for the most part, we really did just shut down campaign operations.”

After Donalds tested negative, he got a haircut and then did his first interview back in public with WINK News. He believes voters should send him to U.S. Congress to represent them.

“Number one, for our area in particular is making sure that we clean our water,” Donalds said. “I feel that we are going to go ahead and win.”

Banyai feels the same confidence for her support among voters and her goal to be elected to Congress for District 19. She was filling out her government bio when we spoke to her.

“Luckily, I’m not going to be losing,” Banyai said. “I’ll be moving to Washington D.C. to be the first woman representative for FL 19.”

Even though she’s a blue fish swimming in a red sea, she believes she can connect with voters in the region.

“I know that we can find common ground, and that’s what it’s been about for me,” Banyai said. “We have to take care of the coronavirus and the economic collapse from that.”

Both District 19 candidates are feeling optimistic but leaving no stones unturned.