Republican Byron Donalds was projected to win Florida's governorship, making him the first Black governor in the state's history.
The projection gave him victory over David Jolly, the Democratic candidate.
It was an open seat: Ron DeSantis, the governor, was term limited and couldn't run again. Donalds will take over from him.
Before he entered the race, Donalds had served in Congress since 2021.
He grew up in Brooklyn, attended university in Florida, and later established himself in the state's political scene before seeking a seat in Congress.
President Donald Trump backed his campaign.
At one stage Donalds was also on the short list to be Trump's running mate in 2024.
A swing state that turned
Once considered a swing state, Florida has been a conservative stronghold since Trump's election in 2016. With Donalds, the governorship stays in Republican hands.
- 2016Florida turns
A state long seen as a swing state becomes a conservative stronghold after Trump's election.
- 2021Donalds goes to Washington
He begins serving in Congress, the account of his record that places him in the House.
- 2024On the running-mate list
Donalds is named among the contenders to be Trump's vice-presidential pick.
- 2026The seat opens
Ron DeSantis is term limited and cannot run for governor again.
- November 3Projected winner
Donalds is projected to become Florida's first Black governor, beating the Democrat David Jolly.
Redrawn maps, unchanged districts
As part of a nationwide effort by both parties to gain an edge in House races, Republicans in the state redrew the political districts.
The map didn't do the work its authors wanted in Florida. All three districts redrawn to help Republicans stayed with the Democrats who held them.
A split verdict nationally
Nationally, the night ran the other way: Democrats made historic gains, giving them full control of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the last years of Trump's presidency.
Discontent with the handling of the economy and Trump's approach to foreign policy was identified as the leading reason for the surge in support for Democratic candidates. That included voters who'd traditionally backed Republicans.
Voting was held on November 3, halfway through Trump's four-year term, and was widely treated as a referendum on his administration. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats were contested, along with governorships and other state and local offices.
Alongside the governorship, the Senate contest went the Republicans' way in Florida. Ashley Moody was projected to hold the seat.
She faced Democrat Angie Nixon in a special election for the seat Marco Rubio left when he became Secretary of State. Nixon emerged as the Democratic nominee after an unexpected primary victory, but her campaign funding couldn't match Moody's.
Donalds was a state representative from 2021.
Two firsts on the same night
The same ballot produced a second barrier broken in the South. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, won Georgia's governorship and became the first Black woman elected governor in the United States.
She defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson to become governor. Brian Kemp was barred by state law from seeking a third term. A Democrat had not won Georgia's governorship since 1998, and her win flipped the office.
No matter who you voted for tonight, I will be a governor for all of Georgia.
Bottoms also cast her win as a message to Washington, saying the state had asked for a leader who would put it first.
Georgia, we sent a message loud and clear that we want a leader who will put Georgia first and who will stand up to all the chaos coming out of Washington, DC
Two firsts on one night
Byron Donalds
Florida, Republican
- Projected winner of the governor's race
- First Black governor of Florida
- Beat the Democrat David Jolly
- Takes over from Ron DeSantis, who was term limited
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Georgia, Democrat
- Won the governorship, flipping it to the Democrats
- First Black woman elected governor in the United States
- First Democrat to win the office in Georgia since 1998
- Beat the Republican businessman Rick Jackson
- Succeeds Brian Kemp, who could not seek a third term
In Tuesday's elections, major political parties nominated eight Black candidates for governorships nationwide, including Bottoms.
Two Black women were on the ballot for governor this year: Bottoms in Georgia and Lisa Demuth, a Republican, in Minnesota.
Only three Black people had been elected governor in the country's history before this year. All three were Democratic men.
What we know
- Byron Donalds was projected to win the Florida governor's race, the first Black governor in the state's history.
- Ron DeSantis was term limited and could not run again.
- Democrats won full control of the House and the Senate.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in the United States.
Still unclear
- The final certified vote count and the winning margin in the Florida governor's race.
- Whether Florida election officials have formally certified the projection.
- The date Donalds takes office and the shape of his transition.
- Which account of his legislative record is right, Congress since 2021 or a state representative's seat since 2021.
When the new Congress convenes in January, Hakeem Jeffries of New York is poised to make history as the House's first Black Speaker.
