Fox News Decision Desk projected Rep. Byron Donalds to win Florida's governor's race, making the three-term congressman the state's first Black governor and the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history.
Donalds defeated former Rep. David Jolly in a close contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, after campaigning on affordability, public safety and preserving DeSantis' conservative agenda.
Trump endorsed Donalds before he formally entered the race, helping propel him through a crowded GOP primary, though his campaign later scrubbed some Trump references as the president's approval ratings fell.
Florida has shifted sharply rightward—DeSantis won by nearly 20 points in 2022 and Trump carried the state by 13 points in 2024—but Democrats had argued a difficult GOP climate made the race competitive again.
Could Florida's historic leadership transition redefine how growing states tackle the complex intersection of housing affordability and infrastructure funding?
How will Florida's proposed property tax cuts balance homeowner relief with the multi-billion dollar revenue loss for local services?
Byron Donalds Elected Florida’s First Black Governor: How a $170 Million GOP Machine, Demographic Shifts, and Policy Flashpoints Redefined the 2026 Gubernatorial Race
Overview
In November 2026, Republican Byron Donalds made history by defeating Democrat David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor and the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history. Donalds’s victory was powered by a massive fundraising advantage, strong support from President Trump, and a 1.5-million-voter registration edge for Republicans. National Democrats largely withdrew financial support, leaving Jolly unable to match Donalds’s media presence. Donalds also benefited from aligning with outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis and capitalizing on his popularity. This win extended the GOP’s three-decade control of Florida’s executive office and elevated Donalds as a rising national Republican figure.