Byron Suggests “Astroturfing,” But the Rage Is Homegrown

Byron Donalds feeds the right wing propaganda machine

When Byron Donalds dismisses the growing wave of protests in his district as “astroturfing,” he’s not just wrong—he’s out of touch. The frustration bubbling up across Southwest Florida isn’t manufactured. It’s real, it’s local, and it’s fueled by everyday people who feel abandoned by the very man elected to represent them.

As the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, Donalds was chosen to serve the people of Lee and Collier counties—families, veterans, workers, and retirees—who deserve real representation. But since his first day in office, Donalds has been more focused on building a personal brand and chasing higher office than doing the job he was elected to do. With his eyes now set on the governor’s mansion in 2026, constituents are left watching their congressman become a ghost in the district.

His record backs up the frustration. According to Congressional data, Donalds has missed over 100 votes since taking office—many of them on issues vital to the region, including election security, veteran care, and disaster preparedness. In a district still grappling with post-Hurricane Ian recovery and a worsening insurance crisis, this absence from action has consequences.

That’s why people are showing up. Protesters in Fort Myers, Naples, and Cape Coral have gathered with signs demanding accountability. “Donalds, Do Your Job!” and “Work for the People!” are becoming common refrains at rallies organized by grassroots groups and local leaders. These are not outsiders. These are neighbors—constituents whose needs have been sidelined while their representative basks in the spotlight of national cable news.

As part of a nationwide movement, one of the largest protests yet is planned for April 5 at Donalds’ Cape Coral district office. There will also be a protest in Bonita Springs, that will confront him as he hosts a splashy kickoff for his 2026 gubernatorial run, on May 28, 2025, at 5 PM outside 27398 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs—organized by constituents determined to be heard. The message is loud and clear: show up for your district or step aside.

Donalds’ critics note that he spends more time on Fox News than in district town halls. He’s earned the label of “show horse” for a reason—delivering headlines and sound bites instead of policy and results. Beyond absenteeism, there are ethical concerns too. Between 2022 and 2023, Donalds failed to report more than 100 stock trades worth up to $1.6 million, a clear violation of the STOCK Act. While he eventually amended the filings, watchdogs are calling for investigations.

Add to that his past legal troubles—a 1997 marijuana charge and a 2000 bribery case, both resolved—and his pattern of skirting accountability becomes even harder to ignore.

Politically, Donalds continues to stoke division. His refusal to certify the 2020 presidential election and his repeated promotion of election denialism has aligned him with the most extreme elements of the GOP—far from the priorities of his hurricane-battered, inflation-weary district.

And yet, when his constituents rise up to demand better, he insults them by calling their protests fake.

They are anything but. These rallies are being led by veterans, teachers, small business owners, and retirees. They are organized on local Facebook groups, in coffee shops, and at kitchen tables—not in back rooms or DC think tanks. The outrage is real, and it’s growing.

In what appears to be a response to this mounting pressure, his office has reportedly mentioned the hosting of a town hall at Cypress Lake High School on April 21. For many, this feels like a reaction—not a commitment. A PR play, not a policy shift.

The truth is simple: Southwest Florida deserves better. Voters sent Byron Donalds to Washington to fight for clean water, affordable insurance, veterans’ health care, and disaster recovery. Instead, they got a man campaigning for his next job before finishing the one he was hired to do.

If Donalds continues to ignore his district and chase headlines over hard work, he’ll find that the “astroturf” he mocked is in fact the grassroots ground swelling beneath his feet.