Florida Gubernatorial Race Set: Donalds Secures GOP Nod, Jolly Wins Democratic Nomination
In Florida, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds secured the Republican nomination for governor, while former U.S. Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. This outcome sets up a historic gubernatorial race, with Donalds potentially becoming the first Black governor of Florida…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 18, 2026 —
Florida has a new matchup for its gubernatorial race, with U.S. Representative Byron Donalds securing the Republican nomination and former U.S. Representative David Jolly winning the Democratic nomination. The outcome sets the stage for a significant contest in the upcoming election.
The nomination of Donalds, who is currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, marks a key moment in state politics. Should he win the general election, Donalds could become the first Black governor in Florida’s history. His campaign has focused on key policy issues, though specific details of his platform were not elaborated upon in the provided summary.
On the Democratic side, David Jolly, a former U.S. Representative, has secured his party’s nomination. Jolly’s campaign is positioned to challenge the long-standing Republican dominance in the governor’s office. Florida has been under Republican leadership for the past 28 years, and Jolly’s win represents a bid to shift that political landscape.
The race is poised to be historic for multiple reasons. Beyond the potential for Florida’s first Black governor, the election presents a clear choice for voters on the direction of the state. Further details regarding the candidates’ campaign strategies, specific policy proposals, and the timeline for the general election were not provided in the summary.
Story summarized from the original created by By Michael Van Sickler, Times Political Editor on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
