Byron Donalds just made history as the first Black politician to win a gubernatorial election in Florida as Fox News Decision Desk projected the congressman winning Tuesday's election. He is also the first Black Republican in the nation's history elected governor. Donalds, a three-term congressman from southwest Florida, defeated Democratic rival former Rep.
David Jolly in a close race to win the Sunshine State's gubernatorial election, the Fox News Decision Desk projects. With his victory, the top House ally of President Donald Trump and MAGA champion with a growing national profile will succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in steering the nation's third most populous state.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Continuing and building upon DeSantis' conservative agenda was a key part of Donalds' campaign for governor. "The people of Florida love the trajectory set by Governor DeSantis. We're going to maintain that trajectory, and we're going to build it and take Florida to a whole new level," Donalds told Fox News Digital earlier this year.
Donalds was endorsed by Trump in February of last year, before he even formally launched his campaign for governor. Donalds declared his candidacy for governor during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity." Backed by Trump, Donalds won nearly half the vote in Florida's August GOP gubernatorial primary. He topped a crowded field of rivals that included Lt.
Jay Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and business executive James Fishback. Donalds made headlines in late September when some references to Trump, whose approval ratings have continued to decline, were scrubbed from his campaign website. A New York City native, Donalds moved to Florida to attend college.
He worked in the finance, insurance, and banking fields before entering politics. A one-time Democrat, he became a Republican in 2010 amid the Tea Party movement. Donalds was elected to the Florida House in 2016, serving two terms before winning a seat in Congress.
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