Key facts
- U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has been projected to win Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary.
- Donalds' victory contributes to a historic number of Black major party gubernatorial nominees on November ballots.
- Seven Black major party gubernatorial nominees, in addition to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, are on the ballot.
- Other Black major party gubernatorial nominees include Lisa Demuth in Minnesota and John James in Michigan.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has been projected to win the Republican primary for Florida governor, succeeding Ron DeSantis. His victory contributes to a historic number of Black major party gubernatorial nominees on the November ballots, with seven Black candidates in addition to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. This slate includes Republicans Lisa Demuth in Minnesota and John James in Michigan, alongside Democrats like Aaron Ford in Nevada, Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Jermaine Johnson in South Carolina, and David Crowley in Wisconsin.
Historically, only three Black governors have been elected in the U.S., all of whom were Democrats. While many of the current nominees, including Donalds, do not emphasize their race as a primary campaign focus, others acknowledge the significance of the moment for representation. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated that while his historic status is not an applause line, it represents a larger challenge for the country. Nevada's Democratic nominee Aaron Ford highlighted the importance of bringing a focus to issues like voting rights and civil rights.
Former New York Governor David Paterson celebrated the bipartisan nature of the current slate of Black gubernatorial candidates. Democrats, however, particularly emphasized the importance of their Black candidates following Supreme Court decisions on redistricting and amid President Donald Trump's critiques of diversity initiatives. Governors are seen as crucial defenders of policies affecting Black communities, addressing issues such as health disparities and economic inequality, which disproportionately impact Black populations.