• Analysis
Byron Donalds wins Florida governor race, becoming state's first Black governor
Republican Byron Donalds, backed by Donald Trump, beat Democrat David Jolly in the 2026 Florida governor race and takes office in January as the state's first Black governor, succeeding Ron DeSantis.
Byron Donalds, the Republican endorsed by Donald Trump, defeated Democrat David Jolly and will become Florida's first Black governor. He takes office in January, succeeding Ron DeSantis, who is termed out.
Trump's endorsement and closing rallies
The Trump endorsement stood at the center of Donalds's winning campaign. The president appeared alongside Donalds at closing rallies in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach. Yet Trump's national standing carried risk for Republicans: he had won Florida three times, but his nationwide unpopularity over the Iran war and the cost of living threatened the party's support in the state.
Two former presidents on opposite sides
The Democratic side leaned on its own national heavyweights.
- •Bill Clinton campaigned for Jolly and headlined a fundraiser that raised $3m for his campaign.
- •Barack Obama also gave Jolly his endorsement.
DeSantis legacy versus cost of living
Donalds framed his candidacy as a continuation of the DeSantis-era of success and warned that Jolly wanted to undo what the departing governor built. Jolly, by contrast, campaigned on Florida's high cost of living, pointing to soaring housing and property insurance costs. His final pitch, aired in TV and social media ads, was, as he put it: "I'll fight to lower costs, and always put you first."
The economy dominated the race. In a September poll, almost 70% of respondents cited economic pressures and housing affordability as their top concern. Florida's booming economy and population growth have driven up costs and forced many people to leave the state.
A new governor, a restive legislature
DeSantis's tenure was defined by culture war battles, including assaults on the LGBTQ+ community, reshaping higher education, and enforcing Trump's harsh second-term immigration crackdown. For nearly every such initiative, the Republican supermajority legislature acted as an effective rubber stamp.
That may change under the new governor: Republican House and Senate leaders have signaled a desire to become more independent. Donalds takes office in January.
