Byron Donalds wins Florida governor race to become state's first Black governor

Donalds faces housing pressures as legislative leaders signal more independence

Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in Florida’s governor race, becoming the state’s first Black governor in a contest The Guardian called one of the country’s most-watched midterm races.

Donalds will succeed Ron DeSantis, a former presidential candidate, when DeSantis’s term ends in January. The change of administration comes after eight years of DeSantis’s leadership, with both parties making his record central to their arguments to voters.

The Guardian said DeSantis spent significant parts of his governorship on culture-war issues. The outlet listed “assaults on the LGBTQ+ community,” the reshaping of higher education and enforcement of Trump’s “harsh second-term immigration crackdown” among them.

Jolly pointed to Florida’s high cost of living, including soaring housing and property-insurance costs, and did not dispute the affordability concern. His final pitch in television and social-media advertising the previous week was: “I’ll fight to lower costs, and always put you first.”

In a September poll, almost 70% of respondents cited economic pressures and housing affordability as their top concern. Separately, The Guardian described the state Donalds would inherit as “a divided state.” It said a booming economy and population growth had driven up costs and forced many people to leave.

The state legislature’s makeup will be another significant factor in the direction Florida takes under Donalds, according to The Guardian. The outlet reported that a Republican supermajority in recent years gave DeSantis support for almost every DeSantis initiative. Republican House and Senate leaders have signaled a desire to become more independent.

Donalds touted the outgoing governor’s endorsement and billed his campaign as “a continuation of the DeSantis-era of success,” presenting it as continuity with DeSantis’s administration. He warned that Jolly was seeking “to undo what Ron DeSantis built.”

Donald Trump endorsed Donalds and appeared with him twice during the campaign’s closing days, despite Donalds having previously appeared to distance himself from the president. The rallies took place in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach. The Guardian said Trump shared the platforms despite his nationwide unpopularity over the Iran war and the cost of living, which threatened to cut into previously solid Republican support that had carried him to three victories in Florida.

Both parties portrayed the race as pivotal and sent heavyweight names to Florida to bolster their candidates. Bill Clinton, the former president, headlined a fundraiser that brought in $3 million for Jolly’s campaign. Barack Obama also endorsed Jolly.

The Guardian’s photograph caption reads: “Byron Donalds speaks at a campaign event in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Monday. Photograph: Dave Decker/Zuma/Shutterstock.”