Byron Donalds, a U.S. Representative from southwest Florida, won the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday with 48 percent of the vote, securing the party’s nomination to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. Donalds defeated 10 other Republican candidates in the crowded field, positioning himself as the frontrunner in a race that will shape Florida’s political direction for the next four years.
Donalds, who has served in Congress since 2021 and previously in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020, received strong backing from President Donald Trump throughout the primary campaign. His victory comes as he seeks to become Florida’s first Black governor and, if elected in November, the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history, according to Britannica.
The general election matchup is now set: Donalds will face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties in April 2025 to run for governor. Jolly won the Democratic primary with 61 percent of the vote, according to Inside Elections. The race will take place on November 3, 2026.
The Road to November
Florida has been a Republican stronghold in gubernatorial contests, with the GOP winning every governor’s race in the state since 1998. In 2022, outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis won by a commanding margin, capturing 59.4 percent of the vote against Democrat Charlie Crist—a nearly 19-point victory that represented the largest margin in a Florida gubernatorial race since 1982, according to election data.
Donalds’ primary win, though decisive, fell short of the 50 percent threshold some Republicans had anticipated. His 48 percent victory margin came in a fragmented field, with runner-up Jay Collins capturing 25 percent of the vote and James Fishback finishing third with 10 percent, according to election results from WPTV.
Jolly, 53, is positioning his campaign around housing, healthcare, and education. The former congressman served in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2015 before leaving office and later switching his party registration. His selection of Gwen Graham as his running mate in June signals an effort to broaden his appeal ahead of the general election, according to his campaign website.
Early polling suggests a competitive general election. A recent poll cited by Fox 35 showed Donalds leading Jolly by just 6 points, with 32 percent of voters still undecided, indicating the race remains fluid as both candidates prepare for the November showdown.
Sources
- Inside Elections — Donalds’ 48 percent primary vote share and Jolly’s 61 percent Democratic primary result
- Britannica — Donalds would be the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history if elected
- WPTV — Primary election results showing Donalds 48%, Collins 25%, Fishback 10%
- Wikipedia — Republicans have won every Florida gubernatorial election since 1998; 2022 DeSantis 59.4% vote share
- NBC News — Donalds defeated 10 other Republican candidates in the primary
- AP News — Donalds is backed by President Trump and will face Jolly in November
- David Jolly campaign website — Jolly’s policy priorities and selection of Gwen Graham as running mate
- Fox 35 — Polling showing Donalds leading Jolly by 6 points with 32% undecided
