State & National

Byron Donalds elected Florida governor, making history as state’s first Black governor

Congressman Byron Donalds has won the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race, with the Associated Press projecting him as the winner after he captured about 50.3% of the vote against Democrat David Jolly’s 48.8%. Donalds, who succeeds Ron DeSantis, becomes both the first Black governor of Florida and the first Black Republican governor in U.S. history. His running mate, former State Senator Bryan Avila, will serve as lieutenant governor.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · The Gainesville Sun