OMM Newsroom
Republican candidates in Florida fended off several high-profile Democratic challenges, while the state elected its first Black governor, according to BBC World.
Byron Donalds, who had served in Congress since 2021, was projected to win the governorship. He will replace Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who could not seek another term because of term limits.
Donalds, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, was once among those considered as Trump’s running mate in 2024. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to Florida to attend university and became active in local politics before running for Congress.
Republican Ashley Moody was projected to retain her Senate seat, defeating Democrat Angie Nixon in the special election for the seat previously held by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Nixon had won a surprise victory in the Democratic primary, but her campaign did not match Moody’s fundraising.
The Florida results came amid historic Democratic gains that gave the party full control of the US House of Representatives and Senate for the final years of Trump’s presidency.
Democrats also scored unexpected victories in Florida. Republicans had taken part in a nationwide redistricting effort, redrawing political maps to improve their chances of winning House seats. Democrats held on to all three Florida seats in districts redrawn to benefit Republicans.
