Republican Bryon Donalds secured a razor-thin victory in Florida’s governor race Tuesday night, edging out Democrat David Jolly by just 1.3 percentage points—a margin of fewer than 108,000 votes with over 95% of ballots counted.
The congressman opened his victory speech with a religious message, saying, “Before I say anything, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” He framed his political journey as “a story of redemption” before turning to policy promises.
A Continuation of Florida’s Conservative Agenda
Donalds positioned himself as the inheritor of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ legacy, pledging to “make sure that Florida remains the very best state in all of America.” His Democratic opponent, David Jolly, had campaigned on reversing many DeSantis-era policies, including what Republicans frame as protections against “genital mutilation surgery” and “criminal illegal aliens.”
In a subtle nod to national politics, Donalds sent a message to former President Trump during his speech: “Mr. President, I want you to hear from Florida that we are still red.”
GOP Holds Key Florida Races
The governor’s race wasn’t the only Republican win in the Sunshine State. Sen. Ashley Moody defeated Democratic Socialists of America candidate Angie Nixon for Florida’s Senate seat. These victories made Florida one of the few bright spots for the GOP in an otherwise disappointing national election night that saw Democrats retake both chambers of Congress.
Donalds vowed to focus on affordability, public safety and education in his term. “We are going to keep our streets safe. We are going to invest in our young people so that they can attain the Florida Dream that all of us love so dearly,” he said.
Closing with a signature GOP line, the governor-elect added, “God Bless you, God Bless Florida, and God Bless America.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/11/04/bryon-donalds-thanks-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ-after-florida-victory/