Byron Donalds has won the race for Florida governor, defeating Democrat David Jolly in Tuesday’s election and making history in the process. Donalds, a Naples Republican who has represented Florida’s 19th Congressional District since 2021, secured the win with nearly 50% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Florida Division of Elections. The victory makes Donalds the first Black governor in Florida history and the first Black Republican governor ever elected in the United States. Born in Brooklyn and raised by a single mother in a working-class household, Donalds graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with degrees in finance and marketing. He worked in banking, insurance and finance in Southwest Florida before entering politics, serving in the Florida House from 2016 to 2020 and winning election to Congress in 2020. Donalds will be sworn in to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, who endorsed him in September after staying neutral through the primary. President Donald Trump’s early endorsement helped clear his path to the nomination. Bryan Avila of Miami-Dade County will serve as lieutenant governor. Republicans have controlled Florida’s governor’s office since 1998, and Donalds is expected to take office in January 2027. AT LEAST FLORIDA REMAINS AMERICA 🇺🇸 🙏🏻❤️❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️❤️