Byron Donalds becomes Florida's first Black governor

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Byron Donalds won Florida's governor race, becoming the state's first Black governor and the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history. He defeated Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties.

Donalds inherits a state his party has run for nearly three decades. But the national picture flipped: Democrats won full control of Congress, so Florida's governor will negotiate with a Democratic House and Senate for the rest of Trump's term.

Why it matters

Florida's Republican governor will now face a Democratic Congress, setting up two years of conflict over federal money and rules.

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Key Indicators

$130M

Donalds' campaign fundraising

NBC News reported Donalds raised about $130 million, a large edge over Jolly.

Donalds' fundraising advantage over Jolly

The Washington Post reported Donalds raised about eight times as much as Jolly.

19.4

DeSantis' 2022 re-election margin

The last gubernatorial race was far less competitive than 2026.

Black governors elected in 2026

NBC News reported the first time multiple elected Black governors will serve at once.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Byron Donalds

Republican congressman from Florida; governor-elect

Governor-elect; scheduled to take office in January 2027

David Jolly

Former Republican congressman; Democratic nominee for Florida governor

Lost the 2026 governor's race

Ashley Moody

Republican senator from Florida

Projected to hold her Senate seat

Angie Nixon

Democratic state representative; Senate nominee

Lost the special Senate election

Ron DeSantis

Outgoing Republican governor of Florida

Term-limited; leaves office in January 2027

Donald Trump

President of the United States

Endorsed and campaigned for Donalds

Organizations Involved

Republican Party of Florida

State political party

Held the governor's office and a Senate seat in 2026

Florida's Republican Party has controlled the governor's office since 1999 and both legislative chambers for most of that period.

Florida Democratic Party

State political party

Lost the governor's race and the Senate race in 2026

Florida Democrats have not won the governor's office since 1994.

Timeline

1994 November 2026

6 events Latest: Today

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Donalds projected winner in governor's race
Today Election

He becomes Florida's first Black governor, defeating David Jolly.
Today
Florida votes; Moody holds Senate seat
Election

Republicans kept the Senate seat Rubio vacated; Democrats took Congress nationally.
Yesterday
2026
Donalds wins Republican primary
Election

Trump's early endorsement helped him clear a crowded field.
2026
May 2025
Jolly joins the Democratic Party
Party switch

The former Republican congressman had left the GOP in late 2018.
May 2025
2022
DeSantis re-elected by 19.4 points
Election

The margin was far wider than his 0.4-point win in 2018.
2022
1994
Last Democratic governor wins Florida
Election

Lawton Chiles was re-elected. No Democrat has won the governor's office since.
1994

Scenarios

Donalds is sworn in and Florida stays on DeSantis's course

Likely Resolves by Feb 1, 2027

Discussed by: AP and NBC News, citing Donalds's campaign promises

Donalds campaigned on continuing DeSantis's conservative agenda, expanding school choice and lowering home insurance costs. He takes office in January 2027 with a Legislature his party controls. The open question is whether he governs as a DeSantis continuation or builds a separate profile.

Florida homeowners get property insurance relief

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: The Washington Post, reporting Donalds's platform

Donalds made lower home insurance rates a central campaign promise. Delivering relief depends on the Legislature and the state Office of Insurance Regulation, not the governor alone. A measurable statewide rate change would be the first test of whether the promise produced anything.

Donalds files paperwork for a national run

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: NBC News, citing his $130 million war chest and Trump ties

Donalds will be a first-term governor of a large state with a national donor network. He has not announced anything. A leadership PAC or exploratory committee would be the first measurable step toward higher office.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1989

Doug Wilder elected governor of Virginia (1989)

Doug Wilder, a Democrat, won Virginia's governor race, becoming the first Black American elected governor of a state. He had previously served as lieutenant governor and state senator.

Then

He took office in 1990 and served one term.

Now

Seventeen years passed before another Black candidate won a governor's race.

Why this matters now

Wilder established the precedent that Donalds and the 2026 class of Black governors followed.

2006

Deval Patrick elected governor of Massachusetts (2006)

Deval Patrick, a Democrat, won the Massachusetts governor's race, becoming the second Black American elected governor. He won re-election in 2010.

Then

He served two terms and left office in 2015.

Now

No other Black governor was elected until Wes Moore in Maryland in 2022.

Why this matters now

The country had elected only three Black governors before 2026, never more than one at a time.

2022

DeSantis wins Florida by nearly 20 points (2022)

Ron DeSantis won re-election by 19.4 percentage points, a huge shift from his 0.4-point win in 2018. Florida had not elected a Democratic governor since 1994.

Then

Republicans widened their grip on the Legislature and congressional delegation.

Now

The state moved sharply right, making it a testing ground for conservative policy.

Why this matters now

Donalds inherits that dominant position, but won by a narrower margin than DeSantis did.