Republicans ran a team of successful House candidates this cycle that the GOP sees as one of its strongest classes.
Republican Byron Donalds won Florida’s 19th Congressional District, former Republican Rep. Francis Rooney’s seat, with 58% of the vote against his Democratic opponent.
Donalds, an African American lawmaker in the Florida state Legislature, campaigned on school choice issues and gun rights.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer told reporters Wednesday during a press call that Donalds is one to watch for in Congress.
“He’s gonna be around for a long time, I told him. He’s going to be a leader in our conference, and he’s going to build himself into a true leader, and he’s going to be a face and voice,” Emmer said.
Emmer also praised Iowa Republican Ashley Hinson and Florida’s Maria Salazar, among others, who were found by NRCC Recruitment Chairwoman Susan Brooks, an Indiana Republican representative.
“I figured that people from Alabama know their districts and their bench much better than a guy from Minnesota. I think people in New York know their state much better than somebody from Arizona or Montana,” Emmer explained. “So we tried to empower the delegations. And then, once we identified somebody, especially the female candidates, I would try to put them in contact with every female in our conference.”
Hinson defeated Iowa Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer in the state’s 1st Congressional District. Hinson, a former television anchor, served in Iowa’s state Legislature for one term prior to her run for Congress.
Salazar, also a former television anchor, defeated Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala, with 51.4% of the vote in Florida’s 27th Congressional District in Miami-Dade. Salazar has 30 years of experience as a news anchor on Telemundo, CNN Espanol, and Univision.
According to Emmer, the NRCC fielded 94 women, 75 minorities, and 107 veterans as candidates this cycle. “We broke the record so far of women elected in one cycle, which is 12, and we’re watching seven others and could have as many as 19,” he said.
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales maintained a seat for Republicans in the state’s 23rd Congressional District that was previously listed as one of the most vulnerable before its previous occupant, Republican Rep. Will Hurd, retired from Congress.
Gonzales, a Navy veteran, won the open seat after defeating Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones 50% to 47%.
The Texas Republican is a San Antonio native who campaigned on defending conservative values, including his anti-abortion stance, as well as propelling the influence of liberalism away from Texas.
