Republican candidate Byron Donalds has made history after defeating Democratic contender David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor in the state’s 180-year history.
Donalds, a US representative for Southwest Florida and a close ally of President Donald Trump, secured victory in the November 3 general election, according to projections by CBS News.
He will succeed Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who was constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
The victory represents a historic milestone for Florida, which has never elected a Black governor since becoming a state.
Donalds also joins a small group of Black Americans who have been elected to lead US states. Before the 2026 midterm elections, only three Black governors had been elected in the country: Douglas Wilder of Virginia, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Wes Moore of Maryland, all Democrats, according to The Associated Press.
His emergence also formed part of a historic field of Black gubernatorial candidates who contested elections under both major political parties.
Despite the historic significance of his candidacy, Donalds largely avoided making race a central issue during his campaign.
In a March interview with CBS News Miami’s Jim DeFede, he acknowledged the importance of potentially becoming the first Black Republican governor of a Southern state but said he preferred to focus on his conservative policies and political principles rather than his racial identity.
Donalds, who was first elected to Congress in 2020, secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination in August with Trump’s endorsement.
His campaign focused on tax cuts, reducing property insurance costs and expanding educational opportunities.
He also sought to strengthen Republican support among Black voters, telling CBS News in October that his campaign was targeting more than 20 per cent of the Black vote in Florida.
His victory extends Republican control of the Florida governor’s office, which the party has held since 1999.
Donalds defeated Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched political parties before contesting the governorship as a Democrat.
Jolly’s campaign centred on affordability, housing and rising insurance costs, issues that have remained major concerns for residents as Florida has continued to shift towards the Republican Party in recent election cycles.
Donalds’ election marks a significant moment in Florida’s political history and further strengthens the Republican Party’s hold on the state’s executive leadership.
