Florida Primaries: Byron Donalds and David Jolly Clash for Governor Seat

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds clinched the Republican nomination for Florida governor, while the Democrats picked former Rep. David Jolly on Tuesday night. With Ron DeSantis stepping down, he can’t run for a third straight term, the state faces a pivotal decision this fall on its political future.

November’s race isn’t just about Florida. It’s a test of Donald Trump’s influence and whether Democrats can bring their party back to center stage in a state that’s shifted right since 2016. Republicans see the Trump-DeSantis era as their model, but Democrats think Trump’s dropping poll numbers give them a shot to flip the script.

DeSantis, never far from the national spotlight, has both tangled and worked with Trump, but he’s out after eight years.

Orange County

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Orange County’s mayoral race will head to a runoff in November, with Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina advancing after a close primary.

With all precincts counted, Moore Russell led the field with 32% of the vote, followed by Messina at 27%. Stephanie Murphy finished behind them with 26%, and Mayra Uribe took 15%.

In the Democratic primary for Orange County Clerk of Courts, Roberta Walton Johnson secured a comfortable win over Rick Singh, grabbing 65% of the vote.

Other key races included the county commission contests. In District 2, Kamia Brown led with 32%, ahead of Mike Crabb at 25%. For District 6, incumbent Michael “Mike” Scott held a strong lead with 49%. Most districts saw competitive fields, though District 4 results were not yet available.

The Orange County School Board races also saw decisive victories. Angie Gallo won the chair with 60%. In Districts 1 and 2, Melissa Lopez Marantes and Gloria Reina O’Neal took healthy leads, both nearing or above 60%. District 3 was tighter, with Susanne Peña at 47%, ahead of Diana Moore and Ilia Adorno.

Judicial races wrapped up with Asima Azam narrowly defeating Kafi Kennedy for Judge Group 5, and incumbent Cherish Adams holding her seat in Group 17.

Turnout varied by race and district, but across Orange County, voters made their voices heard on a crowded 2026 primary ballot. With Moore Russell and Messina headed to a runoff, the race for mayor remains wide open as November approaches.

Charlotte County

In Charlotte County, voters ousted two commissioners with long tenures. John Fleming toppled Chris Constance in District 2, grabbing 55% of the vote and ending Constance’s 16-year stretch. Since no Democrat filed to run, Fleming becomes the new commissioner come November.

Kim Amontree, a former school board member, took out Commissioner Stephen Deutsch for the District 4 Republican nomination with 61%. She focused on issues like rapid growth, infrastructure, and property taxes, telling voters, “We’ve grown too fast. People want someone fighting for them, not just rubber-stamping what developers want.” Amontree still faces Michael Melton, an independent, in November before she can claim Deutsch’s seat.

Sarasota County

Mark Smith held onto his Sarasota County Commission seat in District 2, while fellow incumbent Joe Neunder wasn’t so lucky in District 4.

The numbers tell the story, Smith scored 8,411 votes to Kristina Sargent’s 7,363, winning with 53.32%. Since no Democrats are challenging him in November, Smith keeps his seat, representing parts of Sarasota, its coastal neighborhoods, and stretches of Siesta Key and Longboat Key.

Over in District 4, things went the other way for Neunder. Jim DeNiro edged him out, taking 6,627 votes to Neunder’s 5,829 in a heated contest. DeNiro grabbed just over 53% and moves on to face Democrat Julie London this fall. That race covers much of mid-county, including the south of Siesta Key, Venice, and everything east to the county line.

Smith has earned a reputation for pushing back against heavy-handed development on Siesta Key and siding with neighbors concerned about protecting their communities. He won’t shy away from complaints about how slowly “government works,” especially when it comes to bolstering flood resilience on St. Armands. He’s been the vice chair and will step up as chairman in December.

Celebrating at Gilligan’s Island Bar on Siesta Key, Smith pointed to his record: standing up for neighborhoods, bringing back in-person meetings, and voting against developments that skipped affordable housing. He admitted he’s had his share of lonely 1-4 votes, but said, “We’ve done a lot of positive things.”

The race tightened and narrowed as precincts reported in, but Smith’s lead eventually stretched out again. Sargent congratulated him after the results rolled in. “We ran a wonderful campaign,” she said at her gathering at 1818 Grill. She praised her supporters and wished Smith well, calling his success a win for everyone.

Even after losing, Sargent kept her sights on the issues. Her campaign focused on sorely needed infrastructure to battle flooding, and she said, “We may have lost, but I don’t feel defeated.”

The Governor’s Race

Turning back to the governor’s race, Donalds’ win could also be historic; he’d be Florida’s first Black governor. He overcame ex-DeSantis running mate Jay Collins, political newcomer James Fishback, and several others. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night at a Universal Studios hotel, Donalds set a new tone: “Primary’s done. Now we stand together—one party, united.” Trump’s endorsement matters, he said, but he also made clear, “You can’t expect the president’s support to do all the work.”

Donalds wants tax cuts, changes to Florida’s insurance laws to lower costs, and more transparency in healthcare pricing.

Jolly, the Democratic nominee, brings a complicated resume. He’s a former Republican who switched parties last year. In his speech, he didn’t hide from his past: “Thank you for welcoming me. I still hold to capitalism and a lean government, but government must act when people need it—education, housing, you name it.” He said culture wars were a distraction, adding, “I believe government should stay out of your life and your bedroom.” For the second cycle in a row, Democrats picked a former Republican for governor. They did it with Charlie Crist in 2022, but DeSantis steamrolled him by almost 20 points.

Not everyone minds Jolly’s background. Retiree Rich Chamberlin in Port St. Lucie voted for him partly because of negative ads: “If they’re against him, I must be for him. I don’t care he used to be a Republican.”

The Senate race remains uphill for Democrats. Florida hasn’t sent one to Washington since 2012. Moody, appointed by DeSantis after Rubio joined Trump’s cabinet, runs to finish the term. Nixon, the progressive champion, made her win official after Vindman conceded on social media: “I’ll support her against Ashley Moody.”

On the Democratic side, state Rep. Angie Nixon won the nomination for U.S. Senate, overcoming a well-funded challenge from retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who gained national attention in Trump’s first impeachment. Nixon now faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who filled Marco Rubio’s seat after he became Trump’s secretary of state, for the last two years of Rubio’s term. Nixon would be the first Black U.S. senator from Florida if elected.

In South Florida, longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz faced a crowded primary in a newly drawn, mostly Black district. Her chief rival, ex-Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, stepped down earlier this year under legal clouds. Some argued the district should have a Black representative, but Wasserman Schultz’s experience won the day. Surrounded by supporters, she got emotional: “I want you to know I’ll fight so everyone can pay their rent and get by.”

Elsewhere, Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his primary to Ryan Elijah, a former TV reporter, in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Mills, hit by scandals and abandoned by party leaders, couldn’t hold his seat. Elijah now heads to the general election in a safe Republican district.

For the latest results around the state, check out this link at Florida Election Watch.