Byron Donalds is Florida’s next governor, and the former Florida A&M University student made history in the state where his college journey began. On Tuesday night, the Republican congressman narrowly defeated Democrat David Jolly. As a result, Donalds will become Florida’s first Black governor.
He also becomes the first Black Republican ever elected governor in the United States. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 9 p.m. With about 99% of the expected vote in, Donalds led 50% to 48.7%. That gap came to roughly 112,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast.
For the HBCU community, the night carried a twist. Donalds started his college career in Tallahassee as a Rattler. He did not graduate from FAMU, but his path to the Governor’s Mansion runs through its campus.
A Close Race in the Sunshine State
Donalds will succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who could not seek a third term. When he takes office in January, he will be Florida’s fifth straight Republican governor.
The race stayed tight to the end. Polls showed Donalds ahead through much of the campaign, though rarely by much. Meanwhile, Jolly ran as a centrist after leaving the Republican Party, where he once served in Congress.
Money played a big role, too. Donalds raised more than $140 million, far outpacing Jolly’s roughly $20 million. President Donald Trump also backed him early.
The campaign had no debates. Jolly declined them all, a move that drew criticism from both parties. NBC Miami has the full results as the final votes come in.
At his victory party at the Hard Rock hotel, Donalds reached out to voters who backed Jolly. He promised to serve as governor for all Floridians, not just his supporters.
Byron Donalds’ Road From Brooklyn to Tallahassee
Donalds was born in Brooklyn in 1978 and grew up in Crown Heights. He was raised by a single mother, whom he often calls his role model. She even appeared in his campaign ads, asking voters to support her son.
After graduating from Nazareth Regional High School in 1996, he headed south. At 18, he rode a Greyhound bus to Tallahassee to enroll at FAMU.
His time on the Hill was rocky. By most accounts, he lacked motivation and carried a light course load. So in his third year, he chose a fresh start.
He transferred across town to Florida State University in 1999. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing in 2002. He also met his wife, Erika, at FSU. Today, the couple has three sons.
From Finance to the Florida House
After college, Donalds built a career in banking, finance and insurance. He spent roughly 15 years in the money business before turning to politics.
His first campaign was a flop. In 2012, he finished fifth in a six-way congressional primary. Still, he stayed involved. In 2014, Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the board of trustees at Florida SouthWestern State College.
Then, in 2016, he won a seat in the Florida House. There, he championed school choice and criminal justice reform. He also chaired a subcommittee on insurance and banking.
In 2020, he won the Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District by just 770 votes. Since then, he has represented Naples, Fort Myers and nearby Southwest Florida communities. In January 2023, some House Republicans even floated him for speaker.
What Byron Donalds Promised as Governor
Donalds pledged to keep Florida on its conservative path. He also spoke often about home insurance, schools and Medicaid.
On data centers, he backed local control over new projects. During the campaign, he told CBS News he wanted voters to focus on his record rather than his race.
What His Win Means for the HBCU Community
Tuesday turned into a historic night for Black governors. In Georgia, FAMU graduate Keisha Lance Bottoms became that state’s first Black governor. In the Virgin Islands, Stacey Plaskett won the top job with FAMU alumnus Milton Potter as her running mate.
Now Florida joins the list. Notably, FAMU has acknowledged Donalds before. In recent years, university leadership recognized the former student publicly.
His politics differ sharply from Bottoms’. Still, both now lead Southern states, and both spent formative years in Tallahassee. For more on the school, check out our Florida A&M University coverage. You can also revisit our Keisha Lance Bottoms coverage from election night.
What Comes Next
Donalds will be sworn in as governor in January 2027. Before then, he will leave his House seat and build his administration.
Meanwhile, NPR has more on how he won the closely watched race.
Stay with HBCU Buzz for continued coverage of Governor-elect Byron Donalds as he prepares to take office.
