U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds clinched the Republican nomination for Florida governor, while the Democrats picked former Rep. David Jolly on Tuesday night. With Ron DeSantis stepping down, he can’t run for a third straight term, and the state faces a pivotal decision this fall on its political future.
November’s race isn’t just about Florida. It’s a test of Donald Trump’s influence and whether Democrats can bring their party back to center stage in a state that’s shifted right since 2016. Republicans see the Trump-DeSantis era as their model, but Democrats think Trump’s dropping poll numbers give them a shot to flip the script.
DeSantis, never far from the national spotlight, has both tangled and worked with Trump, but he’s out after eight years.
Charlotte County
In Charlotte County, voters ousted two commissioners with long tenures. John Fleming toppled Chris Constance in District 2, grabbing 55% of the vote and ending Constance’s 16-year stretch. Since no Democrat filed to run, Fleming becomes the new commissioner come November.
Click here to read the Englewood REVIEW’s exclusive interview with John Fleming.
Kim Amontree, a former school board member, took out Commissioner Stephen Deutsch for the District 4 Republican nomination with 61%. She focused on issues like rapid growth, infrastructure, and property taxes, telling voters, “We’ve grown too fast. People want someone fighting for them, not just rubber-stamping what developers want.” Amontree still faces Michael Melton, an independent, in November before she can claim Deutsch’s seat.
Click here to read the Englewood REVIEW’s exclusive interview with Kim Amontree.
Sarasota County
Mark Smith held onto his Sarasota County Commission seat in District 2, while fellow incumbent Joe Neunder wasn’t so lucky in District 4.
The numbers tell the story, Smith scored 8,411 votes to Kristina Sargent’s 7,363, winning with 53.32%. Since no Democrats are challenging him in November, Smith keeps his seat, representing parts of Sarasota, its coastal neighborhoods, and stretches of Siesta Key and Longboat Key.
Over in District 4, things went the other way for Neunder. Jim DeNiro edged him out, taking 6,627 votes to Neunder’s 5,829 in a heated contest. DeNiro grabbed just over 53% and moves on to face Democrat Julie London this fall. That race covers much of mid-county, including the south of Siesta Key, Venice, and everything east to the county line.
Smith has earned a reputation for pushing back against heavy-handed development on Siesta Key and siding with neighbors concerned about protecting their communities. He won’t shy away from complaints about how slowly “government works,” especially when it comes to bolstering flood resilience on St. Armands. He’s been the vice chair and will step up as chairman in December.
Celebrating at Gilligan’s Island Bar on Siesta Key, Smith pointed to his record: standing up for neighborhoods, bringing back in-person meetings, and voting against developments that skipped affordable housing. He admitted he’s had his share of lonely 1-4 votes, but said, “We’ve done a lot of positive things.”
The race tightened and narrowed as precincts reported in, but Smith’s lead eventually stretched out again. Sargent congratulated him after the results rolled in. “We ran a wonderful campaign,” she said at her gathering at 1818 Grill. She praised her supporters and wished Smith well, calling his success a win for everyone.
Even after losing, Sargent kept her sights on the issues. Her campaign focused on sorely needed infrastructure to battle flooding, and she said, “We may have lost, but I don’t feel defeated.”
The Governor’s Race
Turning back to the governor’s race, Donalds’ win could also be historic; he’d be Florida’s first Black governor. He overcame ex-DeSantis running mate Jay Collins, political newcomer James Fishback, and several others. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night at a Universal Studios hotel, Donalds set a new tone: “Primary’s done. Now we stand together—one party, united.” Trump’s endorsement matters, he said, but he also made clear, “You can’t expect the president’s support to do all the work.”
Donalds wants tax cuts, changes to Florida’s insurance laws to lower costs, and more transparency in healthcare pricing.
Jolly, the Democratic nominee, brings a complicated resume. He’s a former Republican who switched parties last year. In his speech, he didn’t hide from his past: “Thank you for welcoming me. I still hold to capitalism and a lean government, but government must act when people need it—education, housing, you name it.” He said culture wars were a distraction, adding, “I believe government should stay out of your life and your bedroom.” For the second cycle in a row, Democrats picked a former Republican for governor. They did it with Charlie Crist in 2022, but DeSantis steamrolled him by almost 20 points.
Not everyone minds Jolly’s background. Retiree Rich Chamberlin in Port St. Lucie voted for him partly because of negative ads: “If they’re against him, I must be for him. I don’t care he used to be a Republican.”
The Senate race remains uphill for Democrats. Florida hasn’t sent one to Washington since 2012. Moody, appointed by DeSantis after Rubio joined Trump’s cabinet, runs to finish the term. Nixon, the progressive champion, made her win official after Vindman conceded on social media: “I’ll support her against Ashley Moody.”
On the Democratic side, state Rep. Angie Nixon won the nomination for U.S. Senate, overcoming a well-funded challenge from retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who gained national attention in Trump’s first impeachment. Nixon now faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who filled Marco Rubio’s seat after he became Trump’s secretary of state, for the last two years of Rubio’s term. Nixon would be the first Black U.S. senator from Florida if elected.
In South Florida, longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz faced a crowded primary in a newly drawn, mostly Black district. Her chief rival, ex-Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, stepped down earlier this year under legal clouds. Some argued the district should have a Black representative, but Wasserman Schultz’s experience won the day. Surrounded by supporters, she got emotional: “I want you to know I’ll fight so everyone can pay their rent and get by.”
Elsewhere, Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his primary to Ryan Elijah, a former TV reporter, in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Mills, hit by scandals and abandoned by party leaders, couldn’t hold his seat. Elijah now heads to the general election in a safe Republican district.
For the latest results around the state, check out this link at Florida Election Watch.
