Republican Byron Donalds closes Florida governor race against Democrat David Jolly
The gist
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, seeking to be Florida's first Black governor, faces Democrat David Jolly in the Nov.
The race is seen as an early test of how Democrats may perform in 2028.
How it unfolded
- Feb 20, 2025President Donald Trump publicly backed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds' likely bid for Florida governor in 2026, before Donalds had announced.
- Feb 2026Donalds announced he was entering the 2026 race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is ineligible to seek another term after eight years in office.
- Aug 18, 2026Donalds won the Republican nomination for Florida governor and former Rep. David Jolly picked up the Democratic nod in the state's primary elections.