Byron Donalds wins Florida gubernatorial election, becoming the state’s first Black governor.

The Republican defeated Democrat David Jolly on an affordability platform, becoming Florida’s first black governor.

Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida’s closely watched gubernatorial race, according to an Associated Press race call, making him the state’s first Black governor.

Donalds, 48, secured the victory with President Donald Trump’s endorsement and substantial campaign funding, despite a political climate in which Republicans have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the president over rising gas prices and the war with Iran.

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Affordability was central to his campaign, with a focus on inflation, housing costs and insurance. He also pledged to continue the conservative policies of outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who remains popular in Florida and joined him on the campaign trail.

Several polls showed a competitive race throughout the campaign, even as Republicans held a significant voter registration advantage in the state. Florida has approximately 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, while 3.3 million voters are registered without party affiliation.

A former finance industry professional, Donalds has served two terms in Congress and two in the Florida House. Considered a rising star in the Republican Party, he began his political career as a Democrat before leaving the party in 2010.

THANK YOU FLORIDA!

I am humbled and grateful beyond measure. As your Governor, I will give you everything I have. 

We are going to make life in Florida more affordable. We are going to keep our streets safe. We are going to invest in our young people so that they can attain the…

— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) November 4, 2026

Donalds was an early supporter of Trump during the 2024 presidential election, and the president subsequently endorsed his gubernatorial bid. The two held a campaign rally together just days before the election.

Their political alignment, however, had appeared less prominent earlier in the race. Polls conducted earlier this year showed Trump was less popular in Florida than DeSantis. In September, Donalds removed prominent displays of Trump’s name from his campaign website.

Jolly, 54, also made affordability a central theme, campaigning under the slogan “Believe in better.” His platform addressed housing costs, inflation and gas prices, as well as the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers.

He attacked Donalds over campaign contributions from data center industry figures, dubbing him “data center Donalds.” In response to concerns surrounding the industry, Donalds introduced legislation this summer that would require 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 presidential term. He subsequently registered as having no party affiliation before switching to the Democratic Party last year. His professional background includes work as a lawyer, lobbyist and television political analyst.

Donalds’ victory marks a milestone in Florida’s political history and brings a former finance professional and two-term congressman to the state’s governorship after a campaign dominated by economic concerns and debates over the direction of Republican leadership.

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