The 2026 Florida governor race: Byron Donalds vs. David Jolly

Active · last development Sep 20, 2026: “Democratic nominee for Florida governor David Jolly declines debates with Byron Donalds”

What this arc covers

The race to succeed Ron DeSantis as Florida's governor: former Republican Rep. David Jolly's campaign as a Democrat, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins's entry, the lawsuit against Rep. Byron Donalds over an alleged 2022 assault, Donalds's Trump-endorsed win in the August 2026 Republican primary, his choice of running mate and DeSantis's backing, and Jolly's decision to decline debates.

Ron DeSantis

Earliest story we hold Jun 5, 2025 · 12 stories · 40 independent sources (counted once each) · 472 days

Part ofFloridaByron DonaldsRon DeSantisDemocratic PartyDonald TrumpTampaRepublican PartySocialist Party of Serbia

Part of The 2026 governor races

  1. The 2026 Ohio governor race: Amy Acton vs. Vivek RamaswamyJan 17, 2025 – Sep 8, 2026
  2. The 2026 New York governor race: Kathy Hochul vs. Bruce BlakemanJun 2, 2025 – Sep 23, 2026
  3. The 2026 Florida governor race: Byron Donalds vs. David JollyThis arcJun 5, 2025 – Sep 20, 2026
  4. The 2026 Wisconsin governor race: David Crowley vs. Tom TiffanyJul 24, 2025 – Aug 24, 2026
  5. The 2026 California governor race: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve HiltonJul 30, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
  6. The 2026 South Carolina governor race and Alan Wilson's Republican primary winAug 4, 2025 – Jun 23, 2026
  7. The 2026 Pennsylvania governor race: Josh Shapiro vs. Stacy GarrityAug 18, 2025 – Sep 22, 2026
  8. The 2026 Minnesota governor race: Amy Klobuchar vs. Lisa DemuthSep 16, 2025 – Sep 21, 2026
Show remaining 8 arcs
  1. The 2026 Georgia governor race: Keisha Lance Bottoms vs. Rick JacksonSep 17, 2025 – Jun 17, 2026
  2. The 2026 Alabama governor race and Tommy Tuberville's bidNov 25, 2025 – Jul 14, 2026
  3. The 2026 Arizona governor race: Katie Hobbs vs. Andy BiggsFeb 13 – Jul 30, 2026
  4. The 2026 Michigan governor race: Jocelyn Benson vs. John JamesMay 21 – Aug 19, 2026
  5. The 2026 Iowa governor race: Rob Sand vs. Zach LahnJun 3 – Aug 26, 2026
  6. The 2026 Maine governor race: Hannah Pingree vs. Bobby CharlesJun 19 – Sep 9, 2026
  7. The 2026 Colorado governor race: Phil Weiser vs. Victor MarxJul 1 – Jul 31, 2026
  8. The 2026 Rhode Island governor race: Helena Foulkes's primary defeat of Dan McKeeAug 26 – Sep 7, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 20– 222026Democratic nominee for Florida governor David Jolly declines debates with Byron Donalds5 articles · 5 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 2 right
Sep 182026Can David Jolly win Florida’s governor race? Possibly, say handicappers1 articles · 1 independent sources
1 left, 0 center, 0 right
Sep 2– 32026Florida governor's race: DeSantis backs Byron Donalds as Republicans rally in Tampa5 articles · 5 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 3 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jun 5, 2025Former GOP Rep. David Jolly running for Florida governor as a Democrat13 articles · 12 independent sources
  2. Jan 12 – 13, 2026Florida Lt. Gov Jay Collins jumps into Sunshine State gubernatorial race to succeed Ron DeSantis10 articles · 10 independent sources
  3. Aug 13, 2026Mission Improbable: A onetime Republican is trying to prove Democrats can win in Florida12 articles · 12 independent sources
  4. Aug 17 – 19, 2026Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds easily wins Florida GOP gubernatorial primary13 articles · 13 independent sources
  5. Aug 24 – 26, 2026Byron Donalds picks state Sen. Bryan Avila as running mate in Florida governor’s race13 articles · 9 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jun 2025Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jun 2, 202535213
Jan 12, 202623410
Jul 6, 20262215
Jul 20, 20260026
Aug 10, 202610112
Aug 17, 202667728
Aug 24, 202625213
Aug 31, 20260235
Sep 14, 20261103
Sep 21, 20260123

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

28% left · 35% center · 37% right of 40 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 12 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. June 2025

    Jun 5Former GOP Rep. David Jolly running for Florida governor as a Democrat13 articles · 12 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 2 right

  2. January 2026

    Jan 12– 13Florida Lt. Gov Jay Collins jumps into Sunshine State gubernatorial race to succeed Ron DeSantis10 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 4 right

  3. July 2026

    Jul 8– 9Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds sued for alleged 2022 assault5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  4. Jul 20– 212026 Florida Governor’s Race Candidate Profiles: Byron Donalds6 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right

  5. August 2026

    Aug 13Mission Improbable: A onetime Republican is trying to prove Democrats can win in Florida12 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
  6. Aug 17– 19Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds easily wins Florida GOP gubernatorial primary13 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 5 right
  7. Aug 17– 19Byron Donalds, David Jolly to face off in Florida governor's race11 articles · 9 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 3 right
  8. Aug 19– 203 reasons why David Jolly could win Florida’s governor’s race2 articles · 1 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  9. Aug 24– 26Byron Donalds picks state Sen. Bryan Avila as running mate in Florida governor’s race13 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 2 right

  10. September 2026

    Sep 2– 3Florida governor's race: DeSantis backs Byron Donalds as Republicans rally in Tampa5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
  11. Sep 18Can David Jolly win Florida’s governor race? Possibly, say handicappers1 articles · 1 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  12. Sep 20– 22Democratic nominee for Florida governor David Jolly declines debates with Byron Donalds5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right