Byron Donalds Wins Florida Governorship
The Republican candidate secured the victory with over 50 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat David Jolly in a closely contested race.
By Kwame Silva ·
Florida has elected its first Black governor. Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman from southwest Florida, won the 2026 gubernatorial race on November 4.
With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard showed Donalds holding more than 50 percent of the vote. NBC called the race in his favor at 9:10 p.m. Eastern Time. Donalds had raised roughly $148 million for his campaign, a stark contrast to the $22 million raised by his opponent, Democrat David Jolly.
Jolly, a former Republican, faced a difficult path against a candidate backed by President Donald Trump. Donalds also held a 1.5 million Republican voter advantage. Despite these structural benefits, Donalds never built a wide lead in the polls. His support for data centers and his wife’s $30 million taxpayer-funded charter school empire drew criticism throughout the campaign.
The race remained tight through Election Day. Some polls showed Jolly within a single-digit point of Donalds. This stood in contrast to recent history, where Governor DeSantis won reelection by nearly 20 points in 2022 and Trump carried the state by 13 points in 2024. On the trail, Jolly focused on high prices and homeowners insurance, while Donalds labeled his rival a radical socialist.
At the Tampa Convention Center, energy faded as Donalds extended his lead. By 9 p.m., Jolly had not yet appeared at his watch party. The DJ played remixes of popular hits as supporters hugged one another. Democratic consultants waited for the official call, staring into the distance as the night wore on.
Jolly took the stage at 9:30 p.m. to deliver his concession speech. He described the campaign as the honor of a lifetime, noting that it moved the state 14 points in a new direction. He predicted that another candidate would finish the job in the next cycle.
The crowd booed when the music stopped after the race was called. The result marks a shift in Florida leadership, with Donalds preparing to take office as the state's chief executive.
