Donalds and Jolly win nominations to battle for Florida governor.

What This is

• Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won the GOP primary for Florida governor.
• Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic primary for Florida governor.
• Donalds and Jolly will face each other in November to replace Ron DeSantis, who cannot run again because of term limits.
• Donalds’ primary win was powered in part by Donald Trump’s endorsement, and Trump’s clout in Florida was a broader theme of the night.
• Miami Herald and other coverage described Donalds’ victory as historic because he is the first Black candidate to win a Republican primary for Florida governor.
• Several reports describe Florida as trending more Republican in recent years, leaving Democrats with long odds even after Jolly’s win.
• The primaries happened under new congressional district lines that critics say favor Republicans and could reshape November’s down-ballot races.
• In another major statewide race, Democrat Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman in the Democratic primary for a special U.S. Senate election and will face Republican Ashley Moody in November.
• The Justice Department said it sent Civil Rights Division attorneys to monitor polling sites in Miami-Dade County during the election period, including through November.

Why This Matters

• Florida is a large, expensive-to-win state, so its governor race can shape national party strategy and spending.
• The outcome will affect whether DeSantis-era priorities keep driving state government or whether a more centrist Democratic pitch can gain traction.
• How much Trump’s endorsement helps Donalds will influence how candidates in other states court or resist Trump’s backing.
• The same election cycle is also testing trust in voting rules and oversight, including federal monitoring in Miami-Dade.