The Associated Press projects Congressman Byron Donalds as Florida’s next governor, making him the first Black governor in state history. Donalds celebrated his victory in Hollywood on Tuesday night and will succeed Governor Ron DeSantis, with former State Senator Bryan Avila serving as Lt. Governor. President Trump’s endorsement more than a year ago cleared the Republican field, though Donalds has since kept his distance from the White House while promising continuity with the outgoing administration.
Democrats turned out strongly in early voting, but election day voters broke toward Donalds and delivered the win. For Suncoast communities, the governor’s office plays a direct role in hurricane recovery funding, red tide research, and the contracts that keep spring training baseball in local ballparks each March. The transition will also shape how the state supports our arts institutions and coastal development as retiree and snowbird populations keep growing.
We’ll be tracking what the new administration means for Sarasota, Manatee, and our Gulf beach towns as the transition unfolds through January. What’s your top priority for the new governor when it comes to the Suncoast? Let us know in the comments.
