Byron Donalds was elected Florida’s first Black governor on Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Jolly in an unexpectedly competitive race that tested the GOP’s grip on President Donald Trump ‘s adopted home state. Republican Rep.
Byron Donalds was elected Florida’s first Black governor on Tuesday in a race that was seen as unexpectedly competitive down the stretch, defeating Democratic nominee David Jolly. Jolly faced steep hurdles in his effort to lead the party’s rebound. Donalds maintained a steady confidence throughout the campaign, balancing his support for Trump with efforts to create some distance, including minimizing references to the president on his website. Ron DeSantis , who used the office to fan presidential ambitions and steer President Donald Trump ’s adopted home state further to the right.
Republicans have a roughly 1.5 million voter registration advantage, and Donalds dominated Jolly in fundraising. Earlier reporting noted: That reputation faded under DeSantis, who won his first race in 2018 by less than half a percentage point. By the time he ran for reelection in 2022, DeSantis won in a nearly 20-point landslide that left the state’s Democrats in shambles.
But once he was in office, he leaned into culture wars centered on race and gender — signing, for instance, legislation often labeled by critics as “ Don’t Say Gay ” that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade.
Earlier reporting noted: Trump-backed Byron Donalds wins Florida governor’s race, succeeds Ron DeSantis Republican Rep. Earlier reporting noted: Donalds will succeed outgoing Republican Gov.
Donalds, who will become the nation’s first elected Black Republican governor, fended off Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and ran a centrist campaign. Donalds thanked Trump in his victory speech to supporters in South Florida. “Mr. President, I also want to tell you thank you for your support and thank you for being in my corner.
That reputation faded under DeSantis, who won his first race in 2018 by less than half a percentage point. By the time he ran for reelection in 2022, DeSantis won in a nearly 20-point landslide that left the state’s Democrats in shambles.
“I want you to hear from Florida that we are still red,” Donalds told the crowd. But once he was in office, he leaned into culture wars centered on race and gender — signing, for instance, legislation often labeled by critics as “ Don’t Say Gay ” that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade.
