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

Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly on Tuesday to become Florida's first Black governor, succeeding outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in a race that became unexpectedly competitive. Donalds, a Republican congressman backed by President Donald Trump, overcame a Democratic voter registration deficit and fundraising advantage to win, while Jolly, a former Republican who switched parties, ran a centrist campaign. The race focused on high prices and homeowners insurance costs, with Donalds reaching out to Black voters and seeking to define Jolly as an out-of-touch liberal. Florida had been a prized political battleground for a generation, but DeSantis shifted the state rightward with culture-war legislation, winning reelection in 2022 by nearly 20 points. The result tests whether Trump's unpopularity could endanger a Republican stronghold, though Democrats haven't won the governor's office there in over 30 years.