Byron Donalds wins Florida governor's race, set to become state's first Black governor

Republican Byron Donalds has defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida's gubernatorial election, setting him up to become the state's first Black governor and extending the Republican Party's hold on the office.

As of 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, with 97% of votes counted, Donalds was leading Jolly by 1.26 percentage points, according to the Associated Press. The Hill and Florida Politics have called the race for the Republican.

Donalds, a U.S. representative from Florida's 19th Congressional District, will succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis following Tuesday's election. His victory will also make him the first Black Republican elected governor in the United States, according to Florida's Voice.

His running mate, former Florida state Sen. Bryan Avila, will serve as lieutenant governor.

Donalds' victory carries a connection to the Caribbean through his maternal family. His mother, Meredith Patricia Brown, was born in New York City to Jamaican parents, while his father is from Panama.

In an interview with Caribbean National Weekly in September, Brown discussed the Jamaican family values that influenced her approach to raising her children, including Donalds.

She recalled how her own father emphasized the importance of education and discipline, telling her: "We didn't come from Jamaica for you to skylark and fool around."

Brown carried that message into her own household, where education was a central priority. An educator herself, she encouraged her children to remain curious and pursue opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

She described Donalds as an inquisitive child who learned to read early and showed an interest in understanding how things worked. Before turning 10, he joined Kids Crew at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, where he eventually explained exhibits to visiting parents and children.

Brown also exposed him to government and civic institutions through activities connected to her work in education.

"Education levels the playing field," she told CNW.

Born in Brooklyn, Donalds graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with degrees in finance and marketing. He subsequently worked in banking, insurance and finance before entering politics.

He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020 before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. He took office in January 2021 and became a prominent figure in the Republican Party.

Donalds campaigned on affordability, school choice and law and order, with endorsements from President Donald Trump and DeSantis.

Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later joined the Democratic Party, campaigned on affordability, insurance reform and moving away from divisive cultural issues. He conceded the race, according to Florida's Voice.

Republicans have controlled Florida's governorship since 1998. Donalds is expected to take office in January 2027.