Republican Rep. Byron Donalds narrowly defeated Democrat David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor, extending the GOP’s long hold on the state’s top office.
What happened
NBC News and the Associated Press projected Tuesday night, Nov. 3, 2026, that Donalds won Florida’s open governor’s race. With about 99% of expected votes counted, NBC’s results page showed Donalds at about 50.0% and Jolly at about 48.7%.
Official tallies from Florida Election Watch listed Donalds and running mate Bryan Avila with 4,132,112 votes (50.02%) and Jolly and Gwen Graham with 4,024,180 (48.71%). The margin was roughly 108,000 votes out of more than 8.2 million cast.
Donalds succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. He will be sworn in Jan. 5, 2027, as Florida’s 47th governor, according to WUSF Public Media.
Why it matters
- Donalds becomes Florida’s first Black governor, according to AP, NBC News and WUSF.
- WUSF also reported he will be the nation’s first elected Black Republican governor.
- Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since Lawton Chiles in 1994, per Florida Phoenix.
- The race was far closer than DeSantis’s 2022 win of more than 19 points.
What each side said
Donalds told supporters at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Davie that he would serve all Floridians. “Even if you didn’t vote for me, you have my word that I will be your governor, too,” he said, according to NBC News.
On X early Wednesday, he posted: “THANK YOU FLORIDA! I am humbled and grateful beyond measure. As your Governor, I will give you everything I have.” He later added, “We did it, Florida! THANK YOU!”
Donalds said he took a concession call from Jolly and a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump. “Mr. President, I want you to hear from Florida that we are still red,” Donalds told the crowd, according to Florida Phoenix and WUSF. He also praised DeSantis’s eight years in office.
Jolly conceded in Tampa. “Yes, we have lost this election tonight, but we have not lost the fight in any of us,” he said, according to Florida Phoenix. He told supporters a broad coalition had emerged even though Democrats hold a minority of Florida’s registered voters.
Jolly said he asked Donalds to treat that coalition as constituents, not as “radical, communists, socialists,” Florida Phoenix reported. His campaign focused on affordability and insurance costs; Donalds emphasized property taxes, permitting, insurance surcharges and immigration enforcement.
Quick timeline
- Trump endorsed Donalds early; DeSantis backed him later in the general election.
- Donalds raised far more money than Jolly, according to Florida Phoenix and NBC.
- Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later became a Democrat, declined to debate Donalds.
- Networks called the race Tuesday evening; unofficial margins held near 1.3 points overnight.
Sources: AP · NBC News · NBC results · Florida Election Watch · WUSF · Florida Phoenix · @ByronDonalds on X · Donalds “We did it” post
