Florida gubernatorial frontrunner Byron Donalds is facing renewed scrutiny over the timeline of his first marriage after his ex-wife alleged that he began a relationship with his current wife while still legally married.
Donalds, who is seeking to replace Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), was married to Bisa Hall from 1999 to 2002.
In comments to the Daily Mail, Hall said the two were “absolutely married (in a legal sense)” when Donalds started dating Erika Donalds, whom he later married.
Hall claimed that although she and Donalds did not live together during their marriage, she was caught off guard when he announced that his new partner was pregnant.
“I was hurt that we had to divorce because she was pregnant,” Hall said, adding that she had previously asked for a divorce but said he declined at the time.
The allegations resurfaced after Erika Donalds posted a Valentine’s Day message on social media celebrating the couple’s early relationship.
In the post, she referenced meeting Donalds at Florida State University in the fall of 1999 and described their first Valentine’s Day together in 2000. That timeline overlaps with Donalds’ first marriage, prompting fresh attention to the sequence of events.
Hall also told the Daily Mail that Donalds refused to reimburse her for what she described as his share of a $250 divorce filing fee. “It’s not that I need or want the money; I think it just shows me what kind of person he is,” she said.
In addition, Hall repeated a previous claim that Donalds initially spoke with a Jamaican accent when they met in college, which she said disappeared shortly afterward. According to Hall, he later admitted he used the accent to stand out among other students.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Donalds acknowledged regret about how his first marriage unfolded but did not directly dispute Hall’s account of the timeline.
“My former wife and I were married young, and although we were separated, I wish I had handled that chapter differently,” he said. He added that marrying Erika Donalds was “the greatest decision I ever made” and expressed gratitude for the life they have built together.
The personal allegations have become part of the broader political battle in the Republican primary. Businessman James Fishback, another candidate in the race, criticized Donalds and pledged to pursue changes to Florida’s divorce laws if elected.
Fishback said that spouses who commit adultery should face “serious financial consequences.”
Fishback, however, has also faced scrutiny over his own past relationships and controversial social media remarks. Both candidates are polling near the top of the Republican field ahead of the Aug. 18, 2026, primary election.
While the allegations concern events that took place more than two decades ago, they have injected personal controversy into an already competitive race. With Donalds currently leading in several polls, opponents appear eager to scrutinize his past as the campaign intensifies and voters prepare to choose their nominee.
