Donalds Defeats Jolly for Florida Governor

Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's gubernatorial election, according to an Associated Press call. The result makes Donalds the first Black governor of the state.

Donalds secured the victory with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and access to substantial campaign funds. The race took place against a backdrop of growing Republican frustration regarding gas prices and the war with Iran.

During his campaign, Donalds emphasized affordability, specifically citing inflation, housing costs, and insurance premiums. He pledged to maintain the conservative policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis, who retains high popularity in the state, joined Donalds on the campaign trail.

Polling throughout the election cycle indicated a tight contest that favored Donalds. The state has approximately 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, while 3.3 million voters remain unaffiliated.

Donalds, 48, previously served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the Florida House. He spent most of his professional career in finance. Originally a Democrat, he switched party registration in 2010. He supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and Trump reciprocated with his endorsement. The two campaigned together days before the election.

Jolly, 54, ran under the slogan 'believe in better.' He targeted housing, inflation, and the rise of artificial intelligence data centers. He criticized Donalds for accepting contributions from the data center industry, referring to him as 'data center Donalds.' Donalds had introduced legislation in the summer requiring data centers to generate their own power and water.

Jolly served in Congress as a Republican before leaving the party in 2018 during Trump's first term. He registered as an independent before switching to the Democratic Party last year. His career has included work as a lawyer, lobbyist, and television political analyst.