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Trump-endorsed Republican Byron Donalds becomes Florida’s first Black governor
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Republican Byron Donalds won the Florida governor race, becoming the state's first Black governor, defeating Democrat David Jolly in a highly watched midterm election.
- Donalds was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who campaigned with him despite his nationwide unpopularity, while Jolly received support from Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
- The race was framed around continuing or reversing Ron DeSantis's eight-year governorship, with Donalds pledging to continue DeSantis's policies and Jolly focusing on addressing high living costs.
- Florida faces economic challenges including rising housing and insurance costs amid population growth, which were key voter concerns in the election.
- The state's future policy direction will also depend on the Republican supermajority in the legislature, which has recently indicated a potential move toward greater independence from the governor's agenda.
