Quick Summary
Representative Byron Donalds easily won Florida’s Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, securing Trump’s early endorsement and outrunning a crowded field of challengers to position himself as the heavy favorite to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. With most votes counted, Donalds captured 48% of the vote, more than double the 25% earned by his closest rival, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins. On the Democratic side, former Republican congressman turned Democrat David Jolly won his own primary, setting up a November matchup in one of the nation’s largest and most closely watched governor’s races.
What Happened
Donalds declared victory at an election night event in Orlando shortly after the Associated Press called the race, telling supporters they had won a massive victory. With 93% of the vote counted, he led comfortably over Collins, a former Green Beret who had positioned himself as an alternative within the party, while populist conservative insurgent James Fishback, who had repeatedly attacked Donalds throughout the campaign, managed just 10% of the vote.
Donalds’ win extends a pattern of dominance for Trump-endorsed candidates in Florida Republican politics. Trump backed Donalds early, well before other prominent potential contenders, including Florida’s sitting first lady, Casey DeSantis, entered the picture. Donalds is a Naples-area congressman and one of Trump’s most visible congressional allies, having previously appeared on the shortlist to be his running mate.
On the Democratic side, David Jolly, who represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District as a Republican from 2014 to 2017 before becoming a political commentator and prominent Trump critic, won his party’s nomination after registering as a Democrat in 2025. His campaign has centered heavily on affordability issues heading into the general election.
Background
Donalds formally entered the governor’s race earlier this year after Trump had already pledged his full endorsement, posting on social media at the time that Donalds would be a truly great governor and urging him to run. That early, decisive backing shaped much of the primary campaign that followed, with rivals like Collins and Fishback struggling to gain traction against a candidate carrying the president’s direct support in a state where Trump remains the dominant political force.
The race unfolded against the backdrop of speculation that Casey DeSantis, the current governor’s wife, might also enter the contest. Polling earlier in the campaign cycle had shown Donalds and Casey DeSantis essentially tied among likely Republican primary voters, though her standing weakened considerably once she decided against running, clearing the way for Donalds’ eventual dominant showing. House Speaker Mike Johnson also publicly backed Donalds during the campaign, describing him as a principled conservative leader Floridians could trust.
Ron DeSantis, term-limited after eight years in office and previously an unsuccessful presidential primary challenger to Trump, had notably declined to endorse Donalds despite their shared party affiliation, at points suggesting publicly that Donalds had not been part of his administration’s policy victories.
Why It Matters
Donalds’ decisive win cements his status as the overwhelming favorite heading into November in a state that has shifted decisively toward Republicans in recent election cycles, transforming what was once a competitive battleground into a reliable conservative stronghold. The margin of victory, nearly double his closest competitor’s total, signals just how thoroughly Trump’s endorsement continues to shape Republican primary outcomes in Florida specifically and suggests limited appetite among the state’s GOP base for alternatives to Trump-aligned candidates.
The general election matchup against Jolly carries its own significance as a test of whether a former Republican turned Democrat, running primarily on affordability messaging, can mount a credible challenge in a state Trump carried by 13 percentage points in the last presidential election. Jolly’s candidacy represents an unusual test case for Florida Democrats, who have struggled in recent statewide races, about whether a candidate with a Republican political background and an anti-Trump record can find a viable coalition in the current Florida electorate.
Statistics & Context
- Donalds’ share of the vote with 93% counted: 48%
- Jay Collins’ share of the vote: 25%
- James Fishback’s share of the vote: 10%
- Margin over closest Republican rival: nearly 2-to-1
- Trump’s 2024 margin of victory in Florida: 13 percentage points
- Years Ron DeSantis has served as governor before term limits: 8
- Years Jolly served in Congress as a Republican: 2014 to 2017
What’s Next
Donalds and Jolly now head into a general election campaign that will run through November, with Donalds entering as the clear favorite given Florida’s recent rightward shift and Trump’s continued dominance over the state’s Republican electorate. Attention will likely turn to how Jolly attempts to build a competitive coalition around affordability messaging, and whether any of the additional candidates on the ballot, including Libertarian and independent contenders, meaningfully affect the race’s dynamics. Casey DeSantis’ political future also remains a subplot worth watching, given her earlier consideration of a run and continued visibility within Florida Republican politics.
FAQ
Who won the Florida Republican governor primary?
Representative Byron Donalds, with 48% of the vote, well ahead of Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins at 25%.
Who won the Democratic primary?
David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who became a prominent Trump critic and registered as a Democrat in 2025.
Did Trump endorse Donalds?
Yes, early in the race, well before other potential candidates like Casey DeSantis entered public speculation about the contest.
Why is Ron DeSantis not running?
He is term-limited after serving eight years as governor and is ineligible to seek another term.
Is Florida considered a competitive state in this race?
Increasingly less so for Democrats. Florida has shifted toward Republicans in recent cycles, and Trump carried the state by 13 points in the last presidential election, making Donalds the clear favorite heading into November.
Editorial Note: This article was prepared using publicly available information from news organizations and election results available at the time of publication. Vote totals reflect results as reported with 93% counted and may be finalized further as remaining ballots are tallied.
Sources:
The Washington Post: Florida governor primary results live: Byron Donalds, David Jolly win
TIME: Who Is Byron Donalds, the Trump-Backed Favorite for Florida Governor?
Bloomberg: Trump-Endorsed Donalds Handily Wins Florida Governor Primary