Florida Voters Decide Between Trump-Backed Donalds and Democrat Jolly

Florida voters finished casting ballots in the gubernatorial race at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, ending a campaign that saw Byron Donalds and David Jolly trade blows over the state's political direction. The contest pits the Republican incumbent representative against the Democratic former congressman in a matchup that has drawn national attention.

Byron Donalds, a U.S. representative from Southwest Florida, campaigns with the explicit endorsement of Donald Trump. Born in New York and educated at Florida State University, Donalds worked in banking and finance before entering politics. He served in the Florida House from 2016 to 2020 and took a seat in Congress in 2020. He currently lives in Naples with his wife and three sons.

His opponent, David Jolly, is a fifth-generation Floridian residing in Pinellas County. Jolly represented the 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017, a position he won in a special election to replace Bill Young. After leaving the Republican Party, Jolly served as an independent for seven years before joining the Democrats in 2025. He holds degrees from Emory University and George Mason University School of Law.

The race has narrowed considerably in recent weeks. According to Newsweek, the most recent polling data places Jolly between four and six percentage points behind Donalds. This margin contrasts with the state's historical trend, as Kenneth Hood-Mackay remains the last Democratic governor to lead Florida, having served until 1999.

Voters in most of the state cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time. However, counties in the Panhandle, which fall within the Central Time Zone, remained open until 8 p.m. Eastern. Because of the two-time-zone split, state officials will not release preliminary election night results until 8 p.m. Eastern.

The outcome will determine the next executive branch of Florida's government. Donalds has maintained a close alignment with President Trump, serving on the House Financial Services and Oversight and Accountability committees. Jolly, a former political analyst for NBC and MSNBC, brings a background in law and media to the governor's office.

Both candidates have spent the final days of the campaign emphasizing their readiness to lead the state's economy and government. The final tally will settle a question that has dominated Florida politics for months, with the winner taking office following the standard transition period.