Trump-Backed Byron Donalds Wins Florida Governor Race
Republican Byron Donalds has won Florida’s governor’s race, defeating Democrat David Jolly in one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm elections. His victory makes him the state’s first Black governor and sets up a new era in Tallahassee as Governor Ron DeSantis leaves office in January.
A Historic Win for Florida
Donalds framed his campaign as a handoff rather than a break, pitching it as a continuation of the DeSantis years. That message helped anchor his run as he sought to extend Republican control of the state and build on the political brand that has dominated Florida in recent cycles.
His win adds another major chapter to Florida’s Republican streak and gives the party a new standard-bearer in a state that remains central to national politics.
Trump’s Endorsement Loomed Large
President Donald Trump’s endorsement played a central role in the race. Donalds stood with the president at two rallies in the final stretch of the campaign, a visible show of support that marked a sharper alignment after earlier efforts to keep some distance.
Trump’s backing carried real weight in Florida, his adopted home state, where his endorsed candidates also won the state’s other marquee race: Ashley Moody held on to her U.S. Senate seat. The GOP was also poised to maintain its 20-8 domination of the state’s congressional delegation.
A Bright Spot on a Tough Night
Florida voters handed Trump consolation prizes in a midterm election that was otherwise a difficult night for Republicans nationally, with Democrats projected to win control of both chambers of Congress. In that landscape, the Florida results stood out as proof that Trump’s endorsement still delivers in the Sunshine State.
An added moral victory for Trump was that his endorsed Republican candidate appeared to take back the Florida House seat in Mar-a-Lago’s district.
What Comes Next
Donalds takes office in January, succeeding DeSantis after eight years of Republican leadership in Tallahassee. His campaign promised to keep Florida’s conservative direction while building on the policies that made the state a model for Republican governance across the country.
As one observer put it, Donalds did not just win a race. He locked in the next phase of Florida’s Republican machine, and with Trump’s support behind him, he now carries the party’s banner into a new era for the Sunshine State.
