Rep. Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Florida governor, is facing a wave of fact-checks after telling a national news audience that "rampant illegal immigration" is behind Florida's measles outbreak — a claim CDC data does not support.

The exchange happened Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," when host Margaret Brennan noted that "nearly all of Florida is below the 95% immunization rate for herd immunity" and asked Donalds point-blank: "Is your message to Florida parents, get your kids vaccinated?" Donalds didn't answer yes. Instead, he said: "The reason why we have seen a measles outbreak in certain parts of the country is because of rampant illegal immigration into the United States from the previous administration."

The Fact-Check

Pressed by Brennan for evidence, Donalds pointed to "outbreaks in El Paso, Texas, in Southwest Florida, where I live, and many other parts," claiming undocumented immigrants "have not had that vaccination schedule." But CDC data cited by Forbes medical contributor Dr. Omer Awan shows that of roughly 2,800 measles cases nationally, only 16 — under 0.6% — originated from international travelers. Ninety-four percent of cases came from people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. The CDC itself has said measles is more often imported by unvaccinated U.S. residents returning from travel abroad than by immigrants.

IS YOUR MESSAGE TO FLORIDA PARENTS, GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED?

Donalds also said in the same interview that he'd like to "study and really engage" on school vaccine requirements — a comment that alarmed public-health advocates, given Florida's surgeon general has already pushed to end the state's school vaccine mandates entirely.

The stakes are real: Donalds, 47, is a sitting U.S. congressman who won the GOP gubernatorial primary on August 18 with roughly 49% of the vote and President Trump's endorsement, beating ten rivals including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. He now faces Democrat David Jolly, a former GOP congressman-turned-independent, in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Reaction spread quickly across national and Florida outlets in the days after the interview, with several noting the exchange had effectively turned school vaccine policy into a live issue in the governor's race. Florida Phoenix reported that Jolly has separately pledged to "fire the Surgeon General on Day One" and "bring back science, data, math" to the state's public health apparatus if elected, though he has not directly addressed Donalds' immigration claim.

What happens next is likely to shape the rest of the race: watch for a Donalds campaign clarification, a response from Florida's Department of Health on the outbreak's actual origins, and whether Democrats amplify the CDC numbers in campaign advertising ahead of the general election.