Byron Donalds wins Florida governor’s race

Republican Byron Donalds won Florida’s gubernatorial race, defeating Democrat David Jolly and becoming the state’s first Black governor, according to the Associated Press race call reported by NPR. Donalds will succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The result preserves Republican control of the governor’s office, which Democrats have not won since 1994, according to reporting on the race. The Washington Examiner reported that, as of 9:09 p.m. on Election Day, Donalds had 50% of the vote and Jolly 48.7%. Those figures were reported as election-night results, not final statewide totals. The race call and the reported vote shares establish Donalds as the winner, but a certified final tally was not included in the accounts. Donalds campaigned with President Donald Trump’s backing, while seeking at times to limit prominent references to the endorsement on his campaign website. Trump rallied with him shortly before the election. The campaign unfolded amid national Republican concerns over gas prices and the war with Iran, as well as Florida-focused debates over affordability, housing and homeowners insurance. Donalds also pledged to continue conservative policies associated...