Republican Rep. Byron Donalds is projected to defeat Democrat David Jolly in Florida’s gubernatorial race on Tuesday (November 3), becoming the first Black person elected governor in the state’s history.
He will succeed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was barred by term limits from seeking another consecutive term, according to The Washington Post.
The three-term congressman received an endorsement from President Donald Trump in February 2025, before officially launching his campaign for governor.
His campaign platform included expanding school choice by giving families more options to enroll their children in private and charter schools.
He also proposed limiting lawsuits against insurance companies and reducing certain state fees as part of an effort to lower homeowners insurance costs, according to his campaign website.
According to The Washington Post, Donalds raised approximately eight times as much campaign money as Jolly, a former Republican congressman who joined the Democratic Party in 2025.
His election maintains Florida's nearly three-decade run of Republican governors while marking a historic milestone for Black political representation in the state.
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