Donalds & Jolly Surge Ahead: Who Can Stop Them Now?
Florida Governor’s Race: Your Simple Guide to Tuesday’s Primary Election
What’s Happening in Florida?
Imagine Florida is like a big classroom getting ready to pick a new class president. But first, each group (political party) needs to pick their favorite candidate. That’s what’s happening Tuesday — it’s called a Primary Election.
Think of it as the "semi-finals" before the big championship game in November.
The Republican Race: Team Red’s Starting Lineup
The Clear Favorite: Byron Donalds
Byron Donalds is currently the "teacher’s pet" in the Republican race. Here’s why he’s leading:
IMPORTANT POINT: Most polls show Donalds with a double-digit lead over his competitors. That’s like being 20 points ahead in a basketball game at halftime.
His Secret Weapon: Former President Donald Trump gave him a golden ticket — his official endorsement. In Republican politics, that’s like getting a superhero’s stamp of approval.
What Donalds Is Saying: At a recent rally in North Florida, he told supporters:
"We are one movement… we have responsibility as Floridians to do what we did for Rick Scott. To do what we did for Ron DeSantis. And that is to tell the Florida Democrats that they are not going to get a foothold of power in the great state of Florida."
The Missing Endorsement
Governor Ron DeSantis (Florida’s current governor) has stayed completely out of this race. That’s surprising because his opinion usually carries a lot of weight in Florida — like the popular kid whose vote everyone wants.
The Other 10 Republican Candidates
Besides Donalds, there are 10 other Republicans running. Think of them as the "also-rans" trying to catch up:
| Candidate | Current Job / Background |
|---|---|
| Jay Collins | Florida’s Lieutenant Governor (DeSantis’s #2) |
| Paul Renner | Former Speaker of the Florida House (top lawmaker) |
| James Fishback | Business investor |
| Rachel Rodriguez | Business owner & attorney |
| James Shaw | Farmer & business owner |
| Plus 5 others | Various backgrounds |
The Democratic Race: Team Blue’s Contenders
The Front-Runner: David Jolly
David Jolly has the most interesting story — he’s like a player who switched teams twice:
- 2014–2017: Republican Congressman
- Several years: Independent (no team)
- Now: Democratic candidate for Governor
Why He Switched: Jolly says the Democratic Party better matches his three core values:
- An economy that works for everyone
- Government that stays out of people’s lives
- Celebrating everyone’s dignity
If Elected, His Top 3 Priorities:
- Housing (making homes affordable)
- Healthcare (access for all)
- Education (better schools)
Final Campaign Stop: Jolly plans to vote in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay area), then join his running mate Gwen Graham in Miami Lakes.
The Other 5 Democratic Candidates
| Candidate | Background |
|---|---|
| Evelyn Castillo-Bach | Criminal justice advocate (Pembroke Pines) |
| Thomas Eloy Fernandez | Healthcare pro & retired Air Force veteran |
| Dayna Marie Foster | Teacher (South Florida) |
| Dotie Joseph | State Representative since 2018 (North Miami) |
| Stephann Norman | Community activist (Tampa area) |
What Happens Next? (Numbered Steps)
- Tuesday: Floridians vote in the Primary Election
- Primary Winners: One Republican + One Democrat advance
- November 5: General Election — the real deal!
- January 2027: New Governor takes office
Quick Reference: Who’s Who
Republicans (11 Total)
- Byron Donalds ← Frontrunner (Trump endorsed)
- Jay Collins (Lt. Gov)
- Paul Renner (Former House Speaker)
- James Fishback (Investor)
- Rachel Rodriguez (Business owner/Attorney)
- James Shaw (Farmer/Business owner)
-
- 5 others
Democrats (6 Total)
- David Jolly ← Frontrunner (Former GOP Congressman)
- Evelyn Castillo-Bach (Justice advocate)
- Thomas Eloy Fernandez (Healthcare/Veteran)
- Dayna Marie Foster (Teacher)
- Dotie Joseph (State Rep)
- Stephann Norman (Activist)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I vote in both primaries?
A: Nope! In Florida, you can only vote in your registered party’s primary. It’s like picking one team’s tryouts.
Q: Why doesn’t Ron DeSantis endorse anyone?
A: Good question! He hasn’t said publicly. Maybe he wants to stay neutral, or maybe he’s saving his influence for later. It’s unusual for a popular governor to sit out.
Q: What does "double-digit lead" mean?
A: It means Donalds is ahead by 10% or more in polls. If 100 Republicans were asked, Donalds would get at least 10 more votes than the next person.
Q: Who is Gwen Graham?
A: She’s David Jolly’s running mate (lieutenant governor pick). She’s the daughter of former Florida Governor Bob Graham — political royalty in Florida!
Q: When do we know the final winner?
A: The November general election decides who actually becomes governor. Tuesday just picks the two finalists.
Summary
Florida’s Primary Election is Tuesday. Here’s the TL;DR:
- Republicans: Byron Donalds is the heavy favorite, boosted by Trump’s endorsement. 10 others are running but trailing. DeSantis is sitting this one out.
- Democrats: David Jolly (ex-Republican turned Democrat) leads a field of 6. His priorities: housing, healthcare, education.
- Next Step: Winners face off in November for the Governor’s mansion.
Remember: Primaries decide who represents each party. The real championship is in November!
Stay informed, Florida — your vote shapes the Sunshine State’s future!