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Republican Byron Donalds wins Florida governor's race, beating Democrat David Jolly

Donalds, a congressman backed by Trump, will be Florida's first Black governor and succeed term-limited Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican.

20 news outlets reported this
Liberal7 outletsTrump-backed Donalds becomes Florida's first Black governorCenter3 outletsDonalds' win, shaped by affordability and Trump tiesConservative10 outletsA historic win continuing Florida's Republican run
Published 3 min read
Overview

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won Florida's governor race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Democrat David Jolly. The Associated Press called the race Tuesday night. Newsweek reports Donalds led 50.1 percent to 48.7 percent at that point.

Donalds, a staunch ally of President Trump, will be the state's first Black governor. He succeeds fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, who was term-limited. Trump endorsed Donalds and appeared with him at rallies in Fort Myers and Daytona Beach.

Jolly is a former Republican congressman who became an independent and then a Democrat. He had Barack Obama's endorsement and campaigned with Bill Clinton. Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994.

Affordability shaped the race, including property insurance costs and data centers. Jolly proposed a moratorium on new data centers. Donalds backed continued development, with the decision left to locals and developers covering utility costs, Newsweek reports.

Final polls had Donalds ahead. In a statement on X, Donalds said he will work to make life in Florida more affordable and keep streets safe. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody also won her Florida race.

Key figures
  • 50.1 percent Donalds' share when the AP called the race, against Jolly's 48.7 percent, per Newsweek — Newsweek
  • 9:09 p.m. ET time the AP called the race — Newsweek
  • 48 percent to 44 percent Donalds' lead in the last NYT/Siena poll, Oct. 19-25 — Newsweek
  • 1994 last year Florida elected a Democratic governor — The Seattle Times
  • more than $140 million amount Donalds raised, per the Daily Mail — Daily Mail

Three sides of the story

Liberal7 outlets

Trump-backed Donalds becomes Florida's first Black governor

NBC News carries the projection of Donalds' win as a video among its election-night calls, next to Sen. Ashley Moody's Florida Senate win. The Guardian opens with Donalds becoming Florida's "first Black leader" and stresses his Trump ties. He appeared twice with the president at rallies, it says, despite the president's "nationwide unpopularity over the Iran war and the cost of living."

It quotes Jolly's final pitch, "I'll fight to lower costs, and always put you first," and notes Obama's endorsement and a Clinton fundraiser that brought in $3m. It closes on the state legislature, where it says Republican House and Senate leaders have "signaled a desire to become more independent." The New York Times headline calls Donalds a "Staunch Trump Supporter" and says the governorship has had no Democrat since the 1990s.

NPR says Trump backed him early.

Center3 outlets

Donalds' win, shaped by affordability and Trump ties

Newsweek leads with Donalds beating Jolly and becoming Florida's first Black governor. It gives the AP call at 9:09 p.m. ET and the 50.1 to 48.7 percent split. It then walks through the polls, which it says "appeared to favor the Republican for the majority of the race," and the issues of insurance costs, taxes and data centers.

It says proximity to Trump "appeared one of the hardest issues" for Donalds, with Jolly at times calling him "Donald Trump's guy." The Seattle Times gives a short account: Donalds, a House member since 2021 and a staunch Trump ally, follows term-limited Ron DeSantis, and Florida has not elected a Democratic governor since 1994. The Hill reports that Decision Desk HQ projects Donalds will defeat Jolly and take over from DeSantis in January.

Conservative10 outlets

A historic win continuing Florida's Republican run

RedState reports Decision Desk HQ's projection, posts DeSantis's congratulation to the statewide Republican ticket and reprints Donalds' thank-you statement. The Daily Mail headlines a "massive scare" and says Donalds held on "by the skin of his teeth." It cites his fundraising edge over Jolly and says Trump's blessing may have been "a weight."

The Epoch Times calls Donalds the fifth consecutive Republican governor and expects a continuation of "America First" and "Florida First" initiatives. It lists his stances on school choice and secure borders. The Washington Examiner calls the race a "tense battle."

It reports Donalds' goal of winning "north of 20%" of the Black vote. It quotes his view that Black voters are starting to "not be as monolithically tied to the Democrat Party."

All sources: 21 articles from 20 outlets

Liberal (8)

Center (3)

Conservative (10)

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