2026 election coverage: WATCH LIVE | POLL END TIME | ALL LIVE RESULTS | LIVE UPDATES | LIVE FACT CHECK
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds was elected Florida’s first black governor on Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Jolly in an unexpectedly competitive race that tested the Republican Party’s hold on President Donald Trump’s home state.
Donald, a staunch Trump ally, will succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has used the position to stoke presidential ambitions and steer the nation’s third-most populous nation further to the right.
Donald would become the first black Republican governor elected in the United States, defeating former Republican congressman Jolly, who switched parties and ran a centrist campaign. Donald thanked Trump in a victory speech to supporters in South Florida.
Stand with free and independent journalism. Join PBS News Press Pass
“I want you to hear from Florida that we’re still red,” Donald told the crowd. “Mr. President, I also want to tell you, thank you for your support, thank you for standing by me.”
The race is a test of whether Trump’s unpopularity will spread to his backyard and jeopardize offices in Florida that Democrats haven’t won in more than 30 years.
Donald sought to define Jolly as an out-of-touch liberal reaching out to black voters who have traditionally supported Democrats.
Read more: A guide to the key ballot measures voters will decide on Election Day
In addition to the national political climate, the campaign focused on issues such as high housing prices and home insurance costs, a particularly salient issue in a state historically ravaged by hurricanes.
Florida has been a treasured political battleground in the United States for generations, where the interests of big cities, farm towns, newly arrived retirees and diverse Latino communities collide in elections that are often won or lost by less than a percentage point.
That reputation faded under DeSantis, who won his first race in 2018 by less than half a percentage point. But once he took office, he leaned into culture wars centered on race and gender — for example, signing legislation often labeled by critics as “don’t say gay,” which banned the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. By the time he ran for re-election in 2022, DeSantis won in a landslide of nearly 20 points, leaving the state’s Democratic Party in disarray.
READ MORE: JB Pritzker says his re-election as Illinois governor shows hope triumphs over fear
Jolly has faced huge obstacles in his efforts to lead the party’s rebound. The Republicans have a voter registration advantage of about 1.5 million, and The Donald has a fundraising advantage over Jolly.
To overcome these challenges, Jolly campaigned in Florida’s Democratic strongholds, such as Broward County, as well as in traditionally Republican areas of central Florida and the state’s Panhandle.
Donald maintained steady confidence throughout the campaign, balancing his support for Trump with efforts to distance himself, including minimizing references to the president on his website.
Explore more coverage of the 2026 vote
A free press is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
Support trustworthy journalism and civil dialogue.