Here’s What Byron Donalds Reveals About His Historic Win

Florida has a new governor. Byron Donalds defeated David Jolly to become the state’s first Black governor. The race ended with Donalds holding 50% of the vote against Jolly’s 48.7% as of 9:09 p.m., according to the Washington Examiner. This tight margin surprised many Republicans. The state voted for Donalds by just about a point once 93% of precincts reported, per the Daily Wire.

Donalds succeeds outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis. He will take office in January after eight years in the governor’s mansion. The outcome marks a historic shift. Fox News reports that Donalds became the first Black Republican in the nation’s history elected governor. He also extends the state’s Republican winning streak. According to the Daily Wire, no Democratic governor has been elected in Florida since 1994.

The Campaign Battle

The path to victory was not easy. The campaign was filled with personal attacks between Donalds and Jolly, according to the Washington Examiner. The Daily Wire notes that Jolly served previously as a Republican congressman and lawyer. He registered as a Democrat in 2025 before launching his gubernatorial campaign, per the Daily Wire. Donalds faced a crowded primary field earlier. He topped rivals including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, according to Fox News.

Donalds received a key endorsement from President Trump in February of last year. He declared his candidacy during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” per Fox News. Yet the strategy shifted near the end. Campaign materials for Donalds drew attention in late September when certain Trump references were removed. He sought to appeal to more moderate voters by taking down prominent mentions of his endorsement, according to the Washington Examiner.

Winning Over Voters

A major part of Donalds’ plan involved Black voters. Weeks before the election, he said he was looking to capture “north of 20%” of the black vote. This was a sharp rise from the 13% who backed DeSantis in 2022, per the Washington Examiner. Donalds told CBS News: “I think there’s a lot of Black voters who are looking at my campaign because they’re just trying to figure out who’s going to be the best person to lead Florida into the future,” according to the Washington Examiner.

He also noted a changing political landscape. “I think the other thing with Black voters: they’re starting to not be as monolithically tied to the Democrat Party,” Donalds told CBS News. Meanwhile, Jolly fired back at the attacks. During their showdown, Donalds claimed Jolly embraced “radical socialism.” Jolly told Fox News: “Byron Donalds is a liar. I’ve condemned socialism in the DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] hundreds of times, and he knows that.”

Plans for the Future

Donalds focused his message on practical issues. Per the Daily Wire, he highlighted school choice, parental rights, government efficiency, and affordability. After winning, he posted a statement to X. A victory statement posted to X by Donalds was quoted by Fox News as “I am humbled and grateful beyond measure,”. He promised to “give you everything I have” as the new governor.

His goals are clear for the state. “We are going to make life in Florida more affordable,” Donalds said. He also vowed to “keep our streets safe” and “invest in our young people so that they can attain the Florida Dream that all of us love so dearly.” Donalds served four years in the state House before winning election to Congress in 2020, the Washington Examiner noted. Now, he leads the nation’s third most populous state.

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