Byron Donalds takes Florida governorship with Trump backing
The 48-year-old former congressman defeated David Jolly to become the state's first Black governor, securing a win despite national headwinds for the Republican party.
By Ayanda Kaminski ·
Byron Donalds has won the governor's race in Florida, the Associated Press announced on Monday. The 48-year-old Republican defeated Democrat David Jolly to claim the top executive office in the nation's third-most populous state.
Donalds becomes Florida's first Black governor. He enters office with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and a substantial campaign finance advantage. The victory comes as national Republicans face growing frustration with the president over gas prices and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The race was defined by affordability. Donalds campaigned on inflation, housing costs, and insurance premiums. He pledged to maintain the conservative policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis, who remains popular in the state, joined Donalds on the trail during the final weeks of the campaign.
Polls throughout the contest indicated a narrow margin for Donalds. The state contains 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats. However, 3.3 million unaffiliated voters remained a decisive factor in the outcome.
Donalds served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the Florida House. He began his political career as a Democrat before switching parties in 2010. He supported Trump early in the 2024 cycle, and Trump reciprocated with his endorsement. The two appeared together at a rally just days before the election.
David Jolly campaigned under the slogan "believe in better." He focused on housing, inflation, and the rapid expansion of AI data centers. On the trail, Jolly labeled his opponent "data center Donalds" after receiving contributions from industry figures. Donalds introduced legislation this summer requiring data centers to generate their own power and water.
Jolly, 54, previously served in Congress as a Republican. He left the party in 2018 during Trump's first term. He later registered as a Democrat last year. His professional background includes work as a lawyer, lobbyist, and television political analyst.
Source: WCBE
