Byron Donalds elected Florida's first Black governor with President Donald Trump's backing
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Republican Byron Donalds won Florida's governor race, becoming the state's first Black governor, after receiving support from President Donald Trump and running on a strong conservative record.
Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's closely watched governor's race, according to the Associated Press. Donalds, a former finance executive and two-term U.S. Representative, secured the governorship with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and a substantial campaign fund, reflecting the strength of the conservative movement in Florida.
During the campaign, Donalds emphasized affordability concerns such as inflation, housing costs and insurance premiums, pledging to continue the conservative agenda of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, who campaigned alongside him. His message focused on practical relief for families and businesses while standing firmly for policies that have made Florida a national model for Republican governance.
Polls throughout the contest showed a tight race, with Republicans holding a registration advantage of about 1.5 million voters and 3.3 million unaffiliated voters also in play. Even so, the campaign demonstrated the energy of the GOP coalition and the broad appeal of Donalds's message across the state.
"We need to keep Florida affordable for families and businesses," Donalds said at a rally, echoing his focus on economic issues.
Jolly, a former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party in 2023, ran on a "believe in better" platform and criticized Donalds for accepting contributions from data-center operators, a sector Donalds had sought to regulate with legislation requiring self-generated power and water. His attacks did little to change the fact that Donalds was campaigning on accountability, energy reliability and common-sense governance.
The victory marks a historic first for Florida and reflects the continued influence of President Donald Trump in the state's Republican politics, confirming that Florida voters remain aligned with the president's agenda and leadership.