Trump-backed Byron Donalds wins Republican primary in race to succeed Florida governor DeSantis

Byron Donalds, a congressman supported by Donald Trump, secured the Republican nomination for the governor's seat in Florida, the state to succeed Ron DeSantis. Donalds, representing south-west Florida since 2021, outperformed other Republican contenders, including Jay Collins, DeSantis's chosen lieutenant governor. If elected, Donalds would be the second elected Black governor in any southern US state.

His campaign ads during the primary focused on former Republican congressman David Jolly, who won the Democratic party's nomination. Donalds promised to implement Trump's agenda, warning against potential tax increases and economic problems under a potential Democratic governor. Jolly responded by accusing Donalds of selling the governor's mansion to special interests and aligning with the highest bidder.

While DeSantis did not endorse the race, Trump did, which could significantly influence the outcome. Other Republican candidates, such as Paul Renner, the former Florida house speaker, and extremist James Fishback, struggled to gain traction. Jolly, a former Republican congressman turned independent, faced difficulty campaigning due to his moderate approach, despite his moderate stance.

Historically, Democrats have struggled in Florida gubernatorial elections, with the last Democrat to win a statewide election in Florida being Nikki Fried, who was elected agriculture commissioner in 2018.