Byron Donalds to become Florida's first Black governor after defeating David Jolly
The 47-year-old Republican won by more than 100,000 votes in Tuesday's midterm election to succeed Ron DeSantis in January.
By Noah Ross ·
Florida will have its first Black governor following Byron Donalds' victory in Tuesday's midterm election.
The 47-year-old Republican defeated Democratic rival David Jolly by a margin of more than 100,000 votes. NBC News projections confirmed the result in the race to succeed Ron DeSantis.
Donalds was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised by a single mother. He now resides in Naples, Florida, where he is married and has three sons named Damon, Darin, and Mason. He graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with a degree in finance and marketing.
The elected official first won a seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, serving until 2020. He subsequently won election to the U.S. House of Representatives that year, representing Florida's 19th District, which covers parts of Lee and Collier counties.
Donalds is a political ally of President Donald Trump, who endorsed his gubernatorial campaign. The win makes him the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history.
He will take office on Tuesday, January 5, 2027, when DeSantis' term ends. The new governor's four-year term will run through 2031.
Source: WSCV
