Republican Byron Donalds has been projected as the winner of the Florida governor's race held this Tuesday, according to projections from the Associated Press and NBC News Decision Desk. He edged out Democrat David Jolly in what was an exceptionally tight contest.
"THANK YOU, FLORIDA! My gratitude knows no bounds. As your Governor, I will give you everything I have," Donalds expressed on his social media platforms.
"We're going to make living in Florida more affordable. We will keep our streets safe. We will invest in our youth so they can achieve the Florida Dream that we all cherish so deeply. Florida is the envy of the nation. I will fight day and night to keep it that way and to elevate our state to even greater heights. God bless you, God bless Florida, and God bless America," he added.
With nearly 98% of the votes counted, Donalds accumulated 4,065,486 votes, accounting for 50%, compared to Jolly's 3,963,591, which represented 48.74%. The margin was 101,895 votes, a narrow 1.26 percentage points with 98% of the votes tallied.
Donalds becomes the first African American governor of Florida, as reported by Jacksonville's election coverage. Additionally, the state's governorship has remained in Republican hands continuously since January 1999. The Democrats last won the position in 1994, when Lawton Chiles was re-elected by less than two points.
Donalds will take office in January 2027, succeeding Ron DeSantis, who could not run for a third consecutive term due to the state's constitutional limit. "Florida sweeps again — congratulations to the state team," DeSantis remarked in light of the Republican victories.
President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds from the outset of the race. In February 2025, he publicly encouraged him with the message "Run, Byron, Run!" and in May 2026, he formalized his support on Truth Social with a "full and total endorsement," describing him as a "total winner." Both shared the stage at a campaign event in Fort Myers at the end of October.
To bolster his appeal to Cuban American voters, Donalds selected state senator Bryan Ávila as his running mate for lieutenant governor at an event held at Miami's Freedom Tower. Ávila, born in Hialeah to Cuban exile parents, is a captain in the Florida Army National Guard and was recognized as the state's most conservative legislator in 2024.
Pre-election polls already indicated Donalds' lead among Cuban Americans. According to the FIU Cuba Poll 2026, Donalds led Jolly among Cuban Americans in Miami-Dade with 60% versus 24%, while an N+Univision/YouGov survey placed him at 51% compared to his rival's 42% within that same segment.
Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later joined the Democratic Party, won the Democratic primary with 61% of the votes and sought to attract moderate voters. His campaign promised to press the Trump administration to expedite residency applications for Cubans with I-220A forms and suspend cooperative migration agreements that allow state resources to be used to detain immigrants without criminal records. Regarding Cuba, Jolly was direct: "I want to see the Cuban regime fall."
The campaign centered around the cost of living, home insurance, and immigration policy. Other candidates on the ballot included Libertarian Scott Eckhard Jewett, with 37,039 votes (0.46%), and Independent Frank J. Russo, with 22,741 votes (0.28%).
The results remained unofficial at the close of election day; Florida's state certification must still be completed before Donalds can be definitively declared governor-elect.
Key Insights on Florida's Governor Election
Who won the Florida governor's race?
Byron Donalds, a Republican, is projected to have won the Florida governor's race against Democrat David Jolly.
What was the margin of victory in the election?
Byron Donalds won the election by a margin of 101,895 votes, which is approximately 1.26 percentage points.
Who supported Byron Donalds during his campaign?
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Byron Donalds, offering a full and total endorsement during his campaign.