Byron Donalds won the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary on August 18, defeating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and other candidates to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis [1, 2, 3]. Donalds secured about 49% of the vote according to one source, though exact figures vary [2, 3].
Donalds has served as a congressman representing southwest Florida since 2021 and was previously a Florida state legislator [1, 3]. The former Trump administration vice presidential contender and member of the House Freedom Caucus ran as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump’s agenda. Trump endorsed Donalds months before his official campaign launch in February 2025, tweeting, "Byron Donalds would be a TRULY GREAT and POWERFUL Governor for Florida and, should he run, will have my complete and total endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" [1, 3]. Donalds vowed to focus on affordability, property tax reductions, immigration enforcement, deregulation, infrastructure investments, and restoring the Everglades [1, 3].
Governor DeSantis did not endorse any candidate in the primary [1, 2, 3]. Donalds defeated Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who had been handpicked by DeSantis, and several others for the Republican nomination [1, 3].
Donalds will face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties last year, in the November general election [1, 2, 3]. Recent polls show Donalds leading Jolly by about 7 points [2]. If Donalds wins, he would be the first Black governor of any southern U.S. state, a milestone noted by one source [1].
The general election contest between Donalds and Jolly is set for November and will determine who succeeds DeSantis as governor of Florida [1, 2, 3].
