US Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL) attends a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Trump National Doral Golf Club on July 09, 2024 in Doral, Florida. (Photo: AFP)
November 3, 2026
Jamaican-American Byron Donalds becomes Florida’s first black governor
Donald Trump-backed Byron Donalds won the governor’s race in Florida, becoming the state’s first black governor.
He defeated Democratic candidate David Jolly in Tuesday’s midterm election.
Donalds, who is of Jamaican heritage through his mother, entered the race to succeed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in February, when he was endorsed by US President Trump.
He built his campaign around affordability, citing the need to lower taxes, improve health care, education, and reduce bureaucracy to help spur Florida’s economy.
According to his campaign website, he is “committed to implementing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Great Again.”
Donalds has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 2021.
