Byron Donalds Elected Florida’s First Black Governor

Byron Donalds became Florida’s first Black governor on Nov. 3, 2026. With 95% of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard showed the Republican candidate with over 50% of the vote. NBC called the race in his favor at 9:10 p.m. Eastern Time.

Donalds, a congressman from southwest Florida, secured the Republican nomination with the backing of President Donald Trump. He ran against Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican. The two candidates campaigned on sharply different platforms. Donalds emphasized his record and sought to label Jolly a radical socialist. Jolly focused his message on high prices and the cost of homeowners insurance.

The race featured a stark contrast in financial resources. Donalds raised roughly $148 million for his campaign. Jolly raised just $22 million. In addition to the war chest, Donalds benefited from a 1.5 million Republican voter advantage. Despite these numbers, the polls remained tight. Some Election Day polls showed Jolly within a single digit point of Donalds, despite previous victories by Republicans in the state.

Donalds faced criticism for his support of data centers. He also drew attention for ties to his wife’s $30 million taxpayer funded charter school empire. These issues dogged the candidate throughout the campaign. He also embraced a historically disliked president, a factor that complicated his appeal to some voters.

As the night progressed, the atmosphere at Jolly’s election watch party at the Tampa Convention Center shifted. Energy dwindled as Donalds extended his lead. At 9 p.m., most outlets had declared the winner, but Jolly had not yet appeared on stage. The DJ played a remix of a popular song as supporters consoled one another. Democratic consultants waited for the official call.

Jolly took the stage at 9:30 p.m. to deliver his concession speech. He described the effort as an honor. He stated that the campaign moved the state 14 points in a new direction. He told the crowd that someone would get it across the finish line in the next cycle.