Byron Donalds Wins Florida Governor Race as First Black Governor

Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly on November 4, 2026, to become the first Black governor in Florida's history and the first Black Republican governor in the United States. Donalds won with 50.1 percent of the vote to Jolly's 48.7 percent, succeeding term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. The victory ensures Republican control of the governor's mansion, a hold the party has maintained since 1999.

Donalds, a three-term congressman and ally of President Donald Trump, ran on a platform of public safety, economic growth, and continuity of the DeSantis administration's conservative policies. He held a massive financial advantage, raising over $173 million compared to Jolly's $27 million. Jolly, a former Republican who switched parties, campaigned as a centrist focused on healthcare, affordability, and ending culture wars, but struggled against a 1.5 million registered voter disadvantage.

While Republicans held the governorship and a U.S. Senate seat with Ashley Moody's re-election, the broader midterm results were stark. Outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis described the national GOP performance as an "extinction level" event after Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress and won governorships in Texas and Ohio. DeSantis attributed some of these losses to President Trump's February attack on Iran, which he claimed acted as a drag on the party by contradicting anti-war rhetoric and impacting voter finances.

In his victory speech in Hollywood, Florida, Donalds affirmed that Florida remains a "red" state. David Jolly conceded the race in Tampa, urging the governor-elect to represent all constituents regardless of party ideology.