Byron Donalds Wins Florida Governor's Race Over David Jolly

Republican Byron Donalds won Florida's governor's race on Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Jolly. The Associated Press called the race for Donalds.

If he takes office, Donalds will become Florida's first Black governor, NPR reported.

Donalds, 48, has served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, and two terms in the Florida House. He won the Republican nomination for governor in August. Jolly, a former Republican congressman, won the Democratic nomination. He switched parties to run as a centrist Democrat.

Donalds won with the backing of President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed him early in the race, and the two appeared together at a rally in Daytona Beach just days before the election. Donalds had also been an early Trump supporter in the 2024 election.

Outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is leaving office, joined Donalds on the campaign trail during the race.