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NBC News projects that Byron Donalds, a Republican, has won the Florida governor's race, defeating Democrat David Jolly. Donalds will become Florida's first Black governor, with support from President Donald Trump. According to NPR, Donalds focused his campaign on affordability issues like inflation, housing, and insurance, promising to continue the conservative policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis.
Donalds, 48, has a background in finance and has served two terms in Congress and two terms in the Florida House. He was an early supporter of President Trump in the 2024 election, and Trump endorsed him in this race. NBC News reports that the race saw a significant shift toward Democrats compared to the 2024 presidential election, but Donalds still secured the victory.
Jolly, 54, campaigned on a "believe in better" slogan, focusing on affordability issues and criticizing Donalds for his ties to the data center industry. Jolly, who has a background as a lawyer, lobbyist, and television political analyst, previously served in Congress as a Republican before switching to the Democratic Party last year.
The election results reflect a competitive race in a state with a significant number of registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Donalds' victory is seen as a continuation of Republican leadership in Florida, with DeSantis remaining popular in the state. ABC News also projects Donalds as the winner, marking a historic moment as he becomes the state's first Black governor.