Unsurprisingly, a MAGA-embracing Florida congressman won the Republican primary in the race for that state’s next governor. The victory advances Rep. Byron Donalds on his quest to become the state’s first Black governor.
Byron Donalds wins GOP primary with Trump support
The New York Times reported that Rep. Donalds won Tuesday’s Republican primary. Donalds won the Florida Republican primary with the backing of President Trump, who won the state in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections and now calls Florida his home state. Donalds, who was first elected to Congress in 2020, quickly established himself as a pro-MAGA Republican, solidifying that reputation when he endorsed Trump over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Trump in turn endorsed Donalds in his run for governor. Even though DeSantis did not endorse Donalds or any other candidate in the primary race, Donalds has campaigned on continuing the conservative legacies of DeSantis and that of Rick Scott, who served as governor before DeSantis and now represents Florida in the U.S. Senate. Donalds is looking to solidify GOP control over Florida, which was once considered a swing state but has been dominated by Republicans in recent years.
After defeating GOP primary field, Donalds faces former Republican in general election
Despite Trump’s backing, Donalds failed to top 50 percent of the primary vote but still finished well ahead of the other GOP candidates in the race, including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former state House Speaker Paul Renner. Those other candidates also included James Fishback, who has built a following through “anti-woke” trolling and made various racist attacks against Donalds during the campaign; Fishback finished third in the primary race. With the primary race behind him, Donalds is now preparing to face Democratic candidate David Jolly, a former U.S. representative who won the Democratic primary on Tuesday. Despite Jolly being a former Republican congressman who later became an Independent and only recently a Democrat, Donalds has already begun labeling Jolly “radical” and a supporter of the “trans agenda” and the “LGBTQ plus community.” Donalds has challenged Jolly to a series of debates while attacking Democrats. “The reason why so many families have been struggling is because of Democrat policy,” Donalds declared during an appearance on Fox Business.
Donalds may make history as first Black governor of Florida
Donalds’ win comes as he and the three other Black Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives — John James of Michigan, Wesley Hunt of Texas and Burgess Owens of Utah — all prepare to leave Congress next year. Owens decided to retire from Congress after redistricting in Utah boosted Democrats’ chances of flipping one of the state’s four districts, while Hunt was defeated in his Republican primary race. Rep. James, like Donalds, opted out of returning to Congress to run for governor of his state; despite a rough reception from Republicans at Michigan’s GOP convention earlier this year, James won Michigan’s Republican primary with Trump’s backing. Victories by James and Donalds in November would make them the first Black governors in their states’ histories; they would also become the first Black Republican governors since Reconstruction and the first Black Republicans ever to be elected to the position of governor of any state.
The chances of Donalds reaching these milestones seem good as he has emerged as the frontrunner to win November’s general election. Though this year’s midterm elections will be tough for Republicans amid economic anxieties, foreign policy concerns and President Trump’s waning popularity, the GOP’s advantages in Florida may be enough to allow the Trump-aligned Donalds to become the state’s first Black governor.