Byron Donalds secures Florida governorship in AP call
The former congressman defeated David Jolly in a state with a large independent voting bloc and high Republican registration.
By Samantha Reed ·
The Associated Press called the Florida governor's race for Republican Byron Donalds on November 3, 2026. The 48 year old former congressman defeated Democrat David Jolly to become the state's first Black governor. Donalds campaigned with the endorsement of President Donald Trump and a large war chest of campaign funds.
The victory comes as Republicans face growing discontent with the president over gas prices and the war with Iran. Donalds focused his message on affordability, including inflation, housing costs, and insurance premiums. He promised to maintain the conservative policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, who remained popular in the state and joined Donalds on the campaign trail.
Florida presents a complex voting map for this election. The state has approximately 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats. It also includes 3.3 million unaffiliated voters who often decide close races. Polls conducted throughout the campaign generally favored Donalds, though the contest remained tight in several surveys.
Donalds entered politics as a Democrat before switching to the Republican party in 2010. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the Florida House. His career in the finance industry preceded his time in office. He supported Trump early in the 2024 election cycle, and the president returned the support by rallying with Donalds days before this election.
Earlier this year, polls indicated that Trump held lower approval ratings in Florida than DeSantis. In September, Donalds removed prominent references to Trump's name from his campaign website. This move appeared to distance him from the president during the final stretch of the campaign.
David Jolly, 54, ran on a slogan of believing in better. He targeted affordability issues and the rapid growth of AI data centers in the state. Jolly nicknamed Donalds data center Donalds because the incumbent received contributions from industry players. Donalds introduced legislation this summer that would require data centers to generate their own power and water.
Jolly served in Congress as a Republican during Trump's first term. He left the party in 2018 and registered as an independent. He switched to the Democratic party last year. Before politics, he worked as a lawyer, lobbyist, and television political analyst.
Source: WWNO
