Republican Byron Donalds makes history as Florida's first Black governor

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds will be Florida's next governor after winning Tuesday's election against David Jolly.His victory makes him the first Black governor in the state's history, at the end of a race that proved unexpectedly competitive.Donalds takes over from fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, who is leaving office after using it to fan presidential ambitions and steer President Donald Trump’s adopted home state deeper to the right.The race was watched as a test of whether Trump's national unpopularity, which has burdened Republicans across the country, would reach into Florida.Democrats have not captured the governor's office in the state in more than 30 years.Jolly, a former Republican congressman who changed party lines to run as a centrist, was portrayed by Donalds as an out-of-touch liberal.Donalds also actively campaigned among Black voters, who traditionally vote for Democrats.Governor Byron Donalds on the campaign trail (Getty)Beyond the national political environment, the election focused on economic concerns such as high prices.The cost of homeowners insurance, a pressing matter in a state routinely impacted by hurricanes, was also central to the contest.Florida previously spent decades as a premier political battleground.The competing interests of major cities, agricultural communities, retirees and diverse Latino populations produced elections decided by thin margins.That dynamic eroded under DeSantis, who won his initial race in 2018 by under half a percentage point.In office, he pursued culture war topics focused on race and gender, including legislation critics labeled as " Don’t Say Gay " that bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through the third grade.DeSantis then secured reelection in 2022 by a nearly 20-point margin, leaving the state's Democratic Party severely diminished.Jolly faced major obstacles in trying to lead a Democratic recovery.Republicans hold a voter registration advantage of approximately 1.5 million in the state. Donalds also significantly outpaced Jolly in campaign fundraising.