{"id":306313,"date":"2026-06-13T12:46:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306313\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T12:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:46:39","slug":"donalds-inching-closer-to-becoming-first-ever-black-florida-governor-free-press-of-jacksonville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306313\/","title":{"rendered":"Donalds Inching Closer to Becoming First-Ever Black Florida Governor \u2013 Free Press of Jacksonville"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nU.S. Congressman Byron Donalds speaking with attendees at the 2025 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona<\/p>\n

SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES \u2014 U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is positioning himself to be the first Black governor of Florida, vying to succeed Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited. Endorsed by Trump, Donalds is currently leading the GOP primary polls with 54% support, significantly ahead of his opponents. He has garnered approximately $81 million in campaign funding, allowing for robust advertising and outreach efforts. Despite potential challenges due to Trump\u2019s declining popularity and ongoing economic issues, Donalds believes he can resonate with voters, including Black communities. His main opponent is anticipated to be David Jolly, the presumptive Democratic nominee, after Jerry Demings suspended his campaign post-cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n

By David L. Snelling | South Florida Times | MIAMI \u2013 In 2018, then-Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum upset U.S. Rep. Gwendolyn Graham in Democratic Primary in the Florida gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n

Gillum won despite his opponent\u2019s massive endorsements, a campaign war chest and support from her father, former longtime U.S. Senator and Florida governor Bob Graham.<\/p>\n

Gillum was poised to make history as the first-ever Black governor in Florida\u2019s history, but he narrowly lost to Republican Ron DeSantis, who was hand-picked by President Donald Trump during his first term.<\/p>\n

As DeSantis is preparing to leave political office this year due to term limits, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fort Myers) is seeking the same history-making distinction as Gillum.<\/p>\n

Buoyed by an endorsement from Trump, Donalds, 47, is the front runner for the GOP nomination for the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n

If he wins, it will most likely set up a showdown with potential Democratic nominee David Jolly, who\u2019s leading in the polls as the party\u2019s favorite.<\/p>\n

But Trump\u2019s declining popularity, the GOP\u2019s latest actions including the war with Iran, high gas and food prices and an economic downturn might impact Donald\u2019s chances of making history, according to several political strategists.<\/p>\n

In the latest poll, Donalds leads in the GOP Primary by 54 percent, according to Fabrizio, Lee and Associates.<\/p>\n

The percentage represents a nine-percentage point lead over Investor James Fishback (nine percent), Florida\u2019s Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (7 percent) and former state House Speaker Raul Renners who has just 2 percent, which is less than the survey\u2019s 4.78 percent margin.<\/p>\n

Donalds\u2019 chances of becoming Florida\u2019s first-ever Black governor has doubled since 2025.<\/p>\n

The congressman has also outraised his opponents, taking in roughly $81 million as of May 2026.<\/p>\n

Donalds is positioned to heavily invest in Florida\u2019s expensive television markets and ground operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cUndecideds have moved toward Byron Donalds at a greater rate than any other Republican candidate since January,\u201d a polling memo reads. \u201cDespite their constant lies and attacks, Fishback and Collins are not gaining any real traction, and Byron Donalds is clearly the overwhelming favorite to be the GOP nominee in this year\u2019s election for governor.\u201d<\/p>\n

During an interview with Orlando\u00a0News<\/a>\u00a06 last week, Donalds said he would, if elected governor, continue to have local law enforcement agents work with ICE agents to continue the crackdown on undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n

Donalds said law enforcement had his full support, and ICE has been operating within the confines of the law, \u201cbeyond a shadow of a doubt,\u201d despite what critics say.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a decision to make, every Floridian has to make that decision,\u201d Donalds said. \u201cAre we gonna abide by the law and be a law and order state, or are we going to choose to not do that? I choose to follow the law, and I choose to make sure that Florida complies with federal immigration law. We are going to continue that standard that Gov. DeSantis has set.<\/p>\n

In previous interviews, Donalds said he had his eyes set on the Governor\u2019s mansion when he served in the Florida House of Representatives as a Democrat.<\/p>\n

Source:<\/p>\n

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