Byron Donalds wins Florida governor race, becoming state's first Black leader

Republican Byron Donalds will be Florida's next governor, becoming its first Black leader after defeating Democrat David Jolly in a closely watched midterm race. He succeeds Ron DeSantis, who is termed out in January. Donalds, endorsed by Donald Trump, campaigned as a continuation of the DeSantis era, while Jolly focused on high living costs and housing affordability. Both parties sent prominent figures to Florida, with Bill Clinton and Barack Obama backing Jolly. The new governor inherits a divided state with economic pressures as a top voter concern. A Republican supermajority in the legislature, which previously backed DeSantis initiatives, has signaled a desire for more independence.