Donalds and Jolly lead Florida gubernatorial primaries
Los candidatos republicano Byron Donalds y demócrata David Jolly tienen claros advantages antes del 18 de agosto.
TALLAHASSEE — The primaries for the next governorship of Florida seem like inevitable conclusions, with presumptive Republican candidate Byron Donalds and Democratic candidate David Jolly commanding double-digit advantages. With the primary elections scheduled for August 18, the race is being defined more as a competition for second place in each party than as a real challenge between current leaders.
The dynamic of the Republican Party
Byron Donalds, congressman from Naples and former member of the Florida House of Representatives, maintains a significant advantage. He has raised $103 million until July 31, driven by the support of President Donald Trump. If he wins, he would become the first Black governor of Florida. Despite this solidity, his path has been marked by infighting within the Republican Party.
Three other Republican candidates — Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, James Fishback and pundit Paul Renner — continue to campaign with limited resources compared to Donalds. Collins, who according to financing records has raised nearly $10.5 million, claims to have the necessary experience after being appointed lieutenant governor by Ron DeSantis. However, polls place him far behind, oscillating between 10% and 18% of the Republican vote.
The calmer Democratic field
On the Democratic side, the race is notably less competitive. David Jolly, former congressman from the Tampa Bay area who changed his affiliation to Democrat in April 2025, leads with a margin of 36 points over state representative Dotie Joseph. Teacher Dayna Marie Foster stays ahead of Joseph in some polls, but still far behind the leader, as we reported in Byron Donalds Leads GOP Primary Polling Ahead of Florida Vote.
Focus on general elections
Both candidates seem to be looking forward to the November general elections. Donalds has challenged Jolly to general debates and launched ads portraying him as too liberal for Florida. For his part, Jolly has criticized the state's "culture wars" and chosen former congressman Gwen Graham as running mate.
Key issues and financing
Despite rhetorical differences, candidates agree on topics such as immigration law enforcement, economic accessibility and property tax reduction. However, they have clashed heavily over data center regulation. While Donalds supports measures requiring private services for these facilities, other Republicans accuse him of hypocrisy.
