Florida Rep. Byron Donalds wins governor's race against David Jolly
The three-term congressman defeated the former Democrat by 1.4 percentage points in a contest marked by heavy spending on property insurance and data center issues.
By Michael Bennett ·
Florida voters elected Byron Donalds as the state's next governor on Tuesday, ending a campaign that pitted the incumbent Republican against a former House member who had switched parties. State Division of Elections results released late Tuesday evening showed Donalds leading with 50.1% of the vote to David Jolly's 48.7%.
Donalds, a three-term congressman representing Naples, secured the victory despite a robust ground game by Jolly. The former Republican, who served in the U.S. House from 2014 to 2017 before becoming a Democrat, ran on a platform of economic affordability. He linked rising living costs to the policies of President Donald Trump, who endorsed Donalds. Jolly also targeted disaffected Republican voters, arguing that the governor-elect's approach to state finances would burden residents.
Financial records provide a clear explanation for the outcome. Donalds outspent his opponent by a wide margin, totaling $165.9 million in expenditures compared to Jolly's $24.7 million through October 29. This disparity allowed the Republican to dominate airwaves and local media. Additionally, the Florida Republican Party's turnout efforts proved decisive. Republicans turned out in high numbers on Election Day, a trend that contrasted with Democratic performance in early voting during the 2024 elections.
The candidates clashed on specific policy proposals that defined the race's tone. Jolly proposed a state program to assume the windstorm risk portion of homeowner insurance policies. Donalds criticized this plan, labeling it a "hurricane tax" that would drive premiums higher. In response, Jolly attacked Donalds for opposing a moratorium on large-scale data centers. He argued that the energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure were straining the grid and increasing costs for ordinary families. Donalds countered by pointing to a law passed by the state Legislature at Governor Ron DeSantis' request, which mandates that AI companies pay for their new energy costs.
Donalds characterized Jolly as a "Trojan horse" for progressive interests, citing the former representative's support for Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon. Nixon joined the Democratic Socialists of America in June. Jolly conceded the race after speaking with Donalds, who confirmed the conversation in his victory speech. The winner pledged to focus on making life in Florida more affordable and keeping streets safe.
"As your Governor, I will give you everything I have," Donalds posted on X following the results. "We are going to make life in Florida more affordable. We are going to keep our streets safe. We are going to invest in our young people so that they can attain the Florida Dream that all of us love so dearly."
