Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman seeking to become Florida’s first Black governor, is campaigning hard to win over Black voters in the state’s closely watched gubernatorial race. Florida, a reliably Republican state with more than 13 million registered voters, has historically seen Black voters predominantly support Democrats, and the number of registered Black Republicans remains relatively small, at fewer than 100,000.

Donalds, who grew up in New York City and attended Florida A&M University, a historically Black college, is focusing on issues like the rising cost of living, insurance affordability, and business growth as part of his conservative platform. Throughout the campaign, he has worked to differentiate himself from former President Donald J. Trump, despite Trump's endorsement of his candidacy. Donalds has faced skepticism from Black voters concerned about what they perceive as his close association with Trump’s policies, particularly on matters such as immigration enforcement and social issues.

At campaign events in Miami Gardens and Florida A&M University, Donalds has urged Black voters to reconsider their traditional loyalty to the Democratic Party. "You’ve been faithful to that party,” he said. “Have they been faithful to you?” Despite his efforts, many Black voters remain unconvinced. Some attendees at a recent forum expressed doubts about whether his conservative agenda would benefit their communities.

Donalds’s Democratic opponent, David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who left the party in 2018, is also actively courting Black voters. Jolly appeared alongside civil rights figures such as the Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump during voter outreach events, emphasizing faith and social justice. Jolly has characterized Donalds as holding an “anti-Black agenda,” challenging Donalds's efforts to gain support in traditionally Democratic-leaning Black communities.

The race has highlighted divisions among Black political leaders in Florida. Some, such as State Senator Shevrin D. Jones, a Democrat advising the Jolly campaign, have strongly criticized Donalds for supporting policies they say undermine Black interests, including recent actions by Governor Ron DeSantis to limit diversity initiatives and redraw districts in ways that could reduce Black representation. Others, including Cynthia Chestnut, a Black Democratic city commissioner in Gainesville, have endorsed Donalds, criticizing Jolly’s choice of running mate and expressing openness to Donalds’s candidacy.

Despite the broad Republican registration advantage—about 1.5 million more Republicans than Democrats in Florida—Donalds has underperformed among some white rural voters in the primary, making Black voter support a critical factor in the general election, according to analysts such as Sean Freeder of the University of North Florida.

Voters engaged in the campaign reflect this complexity. Drumene Woodside, a 53-year-old Black man who normally votes Democrat, said Donalds’s direct engagement and assurances that he is not a “puppet” of Trump persuaded him to consider a vote for the Republican. Others expressed concern about policies like expanded private school tuition aid and immigration enforcement, which affect many Black and Caribbean communities in South Florida.

With the 2026 election approaching, the contest between Donalds and Jolly is drawing national attention, not only for its potential historic significance but also for its reflection of shifting political dynamics among Black voters in Florida and across the country.