- Byron Donalds, a congressman backed by Trump, won the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday in the race to succeed DeSantis.
- David Jolly secured the Democratic party’s nomination on Tuesday.
- So confident was Donalds of victory that his television advertisements in the weeks leading to the primary ignored his Republican challengers and focused on former Republican congressman David Jolly, who secured the Democratic party’s nomination on Tuesday.
- DeSantis did not make an endorsement in the race, but Trump did, backing Donalds and his conservative credentials, with support that could prove decisive in Florida.
- If he wins the November election, as he is expected to do in the conservative stronghold, Donalds would become the first Black governor in any southern US state.
- Jolly faces an uphill battle in November, however. No Democrat has won a Florida governor’s election since Lawton Chiles in 1994; and no Democrat has won a statewide election in Florida since Nikki Fried, the current chair of the Florida Democratic party, was elected agriculture commissioner in 2018.
- David Jolly addressed political division and the economy before placing blame on Donalds for the state’s rising costs in his victory speech.
- Republican voters roundly rejected the credentials of Collins, an army special forces veteran who called Donalds a Washington elite; Paul Renner, the former Florida house speaker; and extremist James Fishback.
Byron Donalds, a congressman endorsed by Donald Trump, has won the Republican nomination for governor in Florida, positioning him to potentially become the first Black governor in any southern state if he wins the November election.145
Donalds' campaign strategy focused on David Jolly, the former Republican congressman who secured the Democratic nomination, rather than his Republican challengers.2367
In his victory speech, Jolly criticized Donalds for the state's rising costs, addressing the political division and economic challenges facing Floridians.
Despite Donalds' strong position, Jolly faces significant hurdles; no Democrat has won a Florida governor's election since Lawton Chiles in 1994, and the last statewide victory for a Democrat was in 2018 with Nikki Fried as agriculture commissioner.
The race is expected to be closely watched, with Trump's backing of Donalds potentially playing a decisive role in the outcome.
As the election approaches, both candidates will need to address the pressing issues facing Florida voters, including the economy and political polarization.
“If Byron Donalds wins the November election, he would become the first Black governor in any southern US state. Meanwhile, David Jolly faces an uphill battle, as no Democrat has won a Florida governor’s election since Lawton Chiles in 1994.”
The Guardian
