Byron Donalds
Role at the time: U.S. representative for Florida's 19th District and Florida governor-elect, interviewed on CNN
Statement summary
On election coverage the night after he won Florida's governor race, Donalds tells CNN's Dana Bash he will not vote to impeach Hegseth if the House takes it up before he leaves Congress. Asked whether fellow Republicans would be wrong to vote for it, he says Hegseth is doing his job for the commander in chief and that voters want Congress focused on costs, not impeachments.
“I'm not voting to impeach Pete Hegseth. ... I mean, first of all, Pete Hegseth is the secretary of war. ... So again, these impeachment things that come up, I just don't agree with that.”
CNN video clip, 1 minute 14 seconds, of Dana Bash's November 4, 2026, interview with Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, the day after he won the Florida governor's race. Bash asks how he would vote if the House takes up Hegseth's impeachment before Donalds leaves Congress.
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On whether the House should impeach Hegseth, Donalds says he will vote no, says Hegseth is doing his job under the commander in chief, and says he disagrees with the impeachment efforts. He opposes impeachment and defends Hegseth.