<p>Donalds, who billed campaign as ‘a continuation of the DeSantis-era of success’, becomes state’s first black governor</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://viewer.gutools.co.uk/us-news/live/2026/nov/03/midterm-election-results-live-updates">US midterm elections – live updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://viewer.gutools.co.uk/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/nov/03/midterm-elections-full-results-senate-house-governor-races">Track live results from all 50 states</a></p></li></ul><p>Republican Byron Donalds will be the next governor of Florida, and its first Black leader, after defeating Democrat David Jolly in one of the country’s most-watched midterm races.</p><p>Donalds was endorsed by Donald Trump and appeared twice with the president at rallies in the campaign’s closing days despite previously appearing to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/23/byron-donalds-florida-trump">distance himself</a>. He will succeed Ron DeSantis, the former presidential candidate who will be termed out of office in January.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/03/florida-governor-byron-donalds-david-jolly-desantis">Continue reading...</a>