Byron Donalds Advances to Florida Governor General Election.
Rep. Byron Donalds won the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, defeating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and nine other candidates to set up a November race against Democrat David Jolly.
- 48% of the vote went to Donalds; Collins finished second at roughly 25%.
- $111 million raised by Donalds — 11 times Collins's $10.6 million haul.
- 61% of the Democratic primary vote went to Jolly; teacher Dayna Foster finished second at about 15%.
- Cook Political Report rates the general election Solid Republican.
Why it matters: The race carries historical stakes on both sides. Donalds, if elected, would be Florida's first Black governor. Jolly's victory would end the longest Democratic drought in the governor's office in the state's modern history.
- The winner succeeds term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and inherits ongoing battles over abortion, education policy, and immigration.
How 54 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage splits on whether the primary was mainly a test of Trump's endorsement power or a broader ideological fight over the direction of Florida conservatism after DeSantis.
Newsweek1w+Who is Byron Donalds' wife, Erika? What we know about family
PBS NewsHour1w+GOP Rep. Donalds will run against Democrat Jolly in Florida's race for governor
The Hill1w+Donalds, Jolly to face off to replace DeSantis in FloridaWNWESH 2 News1w+Primary election takeaways: Donalds joins historic field and progressive scores upset victory in FloridaWNCWFLA News Channel 81w+Donalds, Jolly set for November showdown in Florida governor’s race
Associated Press1w+August 18 primaries
Bloomberg1w+Trump-Endorsed Donalds Handily Wins Florida Governor Primary
Forbes1w+Byron Donalds Wins Florida Republican Governor Nomination
Jerusalem Post1w+After primary wins, two pro-Israel candidates will battle for Florida's governor's officeKSAKSAT 12 San Antonio1w+Americans have only elected 3 Black governors. This year, 8 major party candidates are on the ballotLeft coverage, 8 sources: The left frames the race as a historic crossroads — emphasizing the first-Black-governor milestone for Donalds and Jolly's potential to end nearly three decades of Democratic exile from the governor's mansion.
MSNBC1w+Five key takeaways from Florida’s primaries
CBS News1w+Byron Donalds, David Jolly to face off in Florida governor's race after primary wins
HuffPost1w+Trump Apologist Byron Donalds One Step Closer To Becoming Florida’s First Black Governor
NBC News1w+Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly set to square off for Florida’s governorship
Raw Story1w+Far-right Republican goes down in flames in Florida primary
The New York Times1w+Byron Donalds Wins Republican Nomination for Florida GovernorRight coverage, 27 sources: The right frames Donalds's win as a validation of Trump's endorsement power and a mandate to continue Florida's conservative transformation, with the primary's bitter attacks — particularly Fishback's racial remarks — treated as a distraction Donalds largely rose above.
New York Post1w+Key takeaways from action-packed primary election night in Florida
The Daily Wire1w+Businessman Defeats 2 Felons, A Trump Endorsee, And Madison Cawthorn For GOP House Nomination
Breitbart News1w+Donalds: David Jolly 'Will Bend the Knee to the Radical Left'
Washington Examiner1w+Five takeaways from Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming primary elections
One America News1w+Trump-backed Sen. Ashley Moody wins GOP nomination in Fla. Senate primary for Rubio's vacated seat
Fox News1w+Media executive overcomes Trump endorsement in race to succeed Byron Donalds in ‘circus-like primary’
Just the News1w+Businessman Jim Schwartzel wins GOP primary to replace Byron Donalds in House
NTD1w+Byron Donalds to Face David Jolly in Florida’s Gubernatorial ElectionTCThe Capitolist1w+David Jolly Begins General Election Campaign With $1 Million Statewide Ad Campaign
American Greatness1w+Morning Greatness: Trump-Endorsed Byron Donalds Wins Florida GOP Gubernatorial Primary
Citizen Free Press1w+Byron Donalds wins in blowout — He will be next governor of Florida.
Conservative Treehouse1w+Byron Donalds Easily Wins Florida Governor Primary - Alexander Vindman Squished by DSA Democrat - The Last RefugeWhat’s next: Donalds enters the general as the clear favorite in a state Trump carried again in 2024.
- Jolly's path requires winning back Hispanic voters and flipping conservative-leaning independents.
- Will DeSantis, who endorsed Collins and clashed publicly with Donalds, campaign for the Republican nominee in the general election?
- Can Jolly, a former Republican who joined the Democratic Party in 2025, assemble a coalition broad enough to overcome Florida's 1.5-million Republican registration advantage?