Byron Donalds set for November faceoff with Democrat David Jolly
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and former Florida Republican rep. David Jolly, now a Democrat, advanced to the Florida governor’s general election after winning their respective primaries. Donalds secured approximately 48.7% of the vote,defeating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, while Jolly received 61.6%,leading in his primary as well. Both candidates will now campaign intensively ahead of the November election. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited and leaving office in January 2027, did not endorse anyone in the primary but is expected to support the Republican nominee, likely Donalds, given their political history. Recent polling indicates Donalds leads Jolly by around five points,tho the race remains competitive. Debates between the candidates are anticipated before the general election. Donalds, endorsed by Donald Trump and many Florida Republicans, has served in Congress as 2021, whereas jolly previously served in the House and switched from Republican to Democrat before running for governor. Jolly has received endorsements from some Florida democrats and state politicians.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and former Florida Republican Rep. David Jolly, now a Democrat, are advancing to the general election after winning their respective gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday.
Donalds received 48.7% of the vote, trouncing the rest of the Republican primary field. His closest competitor was Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R-FL), who secured 24.8% of the vote. Jolly, who was the leading candidate in his party’s primary election like Donalds, brought in 61.6% of the vote. The Associated Press called the races for Donalds and Jolly at 8 p.m.
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Both nominees will now be pivoting their attention to campaigning until Election Day in November.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who refused to endorse anyone in the Republican primary, is leaving office in January 2027 due to the state’s term limits. Given his long history of political friction with Jolly, the outgoing governor will likely support the Republican nominee.
Two days before the primary, Donalds said he anticipated DeSantis would support his bid for governor following the primary.
“Gov. DeSantis and all Republicans in our state know that we can leave nothing to chance,” Donalds told Fox News on Sunday. “We can’t just rest in our laurels. I anticipate to have the governor’s support, and we move forward.”
The latest polling shows Donalds outpacing Jolly by 5 points, according to the RealClearPolitics average of two polls that surveyed voters on a hypothetical matchup between the two front-runners. It remains to be seen if Donalds can maintain his lead in the last three months of the gubernatorial race.
The two candidates will likely debate each other before the general election. Donalds challenged Jolly to three fall debates last month. Jolly responded, telling the Republican congressman to “get through” his primary first before they talk. Donalds previously declined to debate his primary opponents.
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Donalds, who has served in the House since 2021, is endorsed by President Donald Trump and numerous high-profile Florida Republicans, with the exception of DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Jolly has received endorsements from some prominent Florida Democrats, such as Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and a number of state-level politicians. He served in the House as a Republican from 2014 to 2017 before registering as a Democrat ahead of his campaign launch for governor last year.
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