Trump-backed Byron Donalds to make history as Florida’s first Black governor
Rep. Byron Donalds just made history as the first Black politician to win a gubernatorial election in Florida as Fox News Decision Desk projected the congressman winning Tuesday's election. He...
By Fox News · Fox News
Rep. Byron Donalds just made history as the first Black politician to win a gubernatorial election in Florida as Fox News Decision Desk projected the congressman winning Tuesday's election. He is also the first Black Republican in the nation's history elected governor. Donalds, a three-term congressman from southwest Florida, defeated Democratic rival former Rep. David Jolly in a close race to win the Sunshine State's gubernatorial election, the Fox News Decision Desk projects. With his victory, the top House ally of President Donald Trump and MAGA champion with a growing national profile will succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in steering the nation's third most populous state. "I am humbled and grateful beyond measure," Donalds said in a victory statement posted to X. "As your Governor, I will give you everything I have. We are going to make life in Florida more affordable. We are going to keep our streets safe. We are going to invest in our young people so that they can attain the Florida Dream that all of us love so dearly. Florida is the envy of the nation. I will fight day and night to keep it that way and to lift our state to even greater heights." DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Continuing and building upon DeSantis' conservative agenda was a key part of Donalds' campaign for governor. Donalds was endorsed by Trump in February of last year, before he even formally launched his campaign for governor. Donalds declared his candidacy for governor during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity." SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Backed by Trump, Donalds won nearly half the vote in Florida's August GOP gubernatorial primary. He topped a crowded field of rivals that included Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and business executive James Fishback. Donalds made headlines in late September when some references to Trump, whose approval ratings have continued to decline,…