Trump-Backed Candidate Wins Florida’s Gubernatorial Primary

The results are in from one of the most fiercely debated gubernatorial primaries this election season. On Tuesday night, Rep. Byron Donald of Florida clinched the Republican gubernatorial nomination, triumphing over a diverse group of contenders.

Donald marked the occasion with a celebratory post on X, expressing gratitude for his family’s support and recognizing his campaign team, volunteers, and the voters across Florida. He emphasized, “Now is the time for Republicans to come together,” advocating for unity in efforts to make Florida more affordable for families, seniors, and the youth.

With 99% of the votes reported, Byron Donald emerged victorious, garnering 48% of the total. Jay Collins, who is expected to take office as Florida’s lieutenant governor from August 2025, followed with 25% of the vote.

In a concession statement, Collins expressed his appreciation for his team and volunteers. “It was the honor of a lifetime to run for governor and meet so many great Floridians,” he remarked. He congratulated Donald and vowed to continue the fight for Florida’s freedom.

President Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate Donald’s victory and highlighted other Republican wins that night, stating, “So many great wins tonight!!!” In the competition, Republican candidate James Fishback received 10% of the votes, positioning him third.

After the race concluded, Fishback addressed his supporters, stating he reached out to Donald to congratulate him. He acknowledged conceding the primary but affirmed his commitment to the larger cause, declaring, “the future of our country is at stake.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has remained neutral during this campaign and had not issued a statement regarding the primary results as of early Wednesday morning.

Looking ahead to November, Byron Donald is set to face off against Democratic candidate David Jolly, who secured 61% of the votes in the Democratic primary, decisively outpacing his opponents.

Notably, Florida has not seen a Democratic governor since Jeb Bush took office in 1999, marking an unbroken streak of 27 years with Republican leadership.