Byron Donalds Appoints Transition Team for Florida Governorship

Governor-elect Byron Donalds, the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history, appointed a four-person leadership team on Monday to manage the transfer of power from outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. Donalds named Miami business executive and University of Miami Board of Trustees chairman Manuel Kadre as chair of the transition team. Other key appointments include Republican strategist Ryan Smith as executive director, former U.S. Treasury official Teresa Ressel as senior adviser, and Foundation for Government Accountability CEO Tarren Bragdon as policy chair.

Donalds stated that he and Lieutenant Governor-elect Bryan Avila campaigned on an agenda to make Florida more affordable, invest in youth, and ensure the state leads with common-sense governance and economic opportunity. The transition team is tasked with preparing the administration for its arrival in Tallahassee ahead of the January 5, 2027, inauguration.

The transition follows a recent election with 64% voter turnout, in which Florida voters also passed Amendment 3 to impact property tax payments. Outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, who is now positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run, characterized the recent midterms as nearly an extinction-level event for Republicans. While Donalds is reportedly distancing himself from Donald Trump, he has adopted an image designed to appeal to voters in Florida and Texas.