# Byron Donalds defeats David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-endorsed-republican-byron-donalds-wins-florida-race-for-governor/
- Published: 2026-11-04T04:11:51+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/florida-governor-byron-donalds-david-jolly-desantis
- Topics: Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- Byron Donalds won Florida’s governor’s race.
- He will be the state’s first Black governor.
- Cost of living and DeSantis’s legacy shaped the contest.

## Summary

Republican Byron Donalds has defeated Democrat David Jolly to become Florida’s next governor and the state’s first Black governor. The closely watched midterm contest centred on the legacy of outgoing governor Ron DeSantis and the cost of living, and will shape the direction of a state that has been led by DeSantis for eight years.

Donalds, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, described his campaign as a continuation of DeSantis’s record; Jolly focused on housing and insurance costs and received endorsements from Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Nearly 70% of respondents in a September poll named economic pressures and housing affordability as their top concern. Donalds takes office in January, as Republican legislative leaders signal they may seek greater independence from the governor.

## Coverage

- [The Guardian: Byron Donalds defeats David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/florida-governor-byron-donalds-david-jolly-desantis)
- [Mother Jones: Byron Donalds Is Florida’s Next Governor](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/11/byron-donalds-is-floridas-next-governor/)
- [PBS NewsHour: WATCH: Republican Byron Donalds speaks after winning election for governor in Florida](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-republican-byron-donalds-speaks-after-winning-election-for-governor-in-florida)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.