Claire Galt
•8/19/2026
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) — Byron Donalds won Florida’s Republican primary for governor Tuesday night, setting up a November matchup with Democratic nominee David Jolly.
Donalds celebrated the win at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando with his wife, Erika, and their three sons before turning quickly to the general election.
“The job is not finished, so we're not slowing down,” Donalds told supporters. “November is coming. We're still building. We're still showing up because the Florida dream isn't finished, and neither are we.”
Much of Donalds’ victory speech focused on affordability — an issue he also emphasized during an exclusive interview with WINK News earlier in the day.
Donalds said his administration would be guided by three pillars: making Florida “accountable, achievable, and most of all, affordable.”
“An affordable Florida means a Florida that stays a place that you can actually afford to live, from your tax bill to your insurance premium to the cost of your health care,” Donalds said.
On property taxes, Donalds promised to keep pushing for major changes regardless of what voters decide on Amendment 3.
“Whether Amendment Three passes or fails, we are going to reform property taxes in our state with the goal of eliminating homestead property taxes once and for all,” Donalds said.
He added that if eliminating homestead property taxes entirely is not financially possible, he would target relief toward seniors on fixed incomes and working families.
Donalds also addressed concerns about what property-tax cuts could mean for public safety funding.
“We will not jeopardize funding for our police, firefighters, and first responders because they have our backs and we have theirs,” Donalds said.
Earlier Tuesday, WINK News asked Donalds directly how he planned to vote on Amendment 3.
“I’m voting yes,” Donalds said.
Insurance was another major part of Donalds’ speech.
“We will create a public scorecard on every insurance company in Florida, tracking how fast they pay claims and how often they deny them,” Donalds said, arguing the proposal would bring more competition, transparency and accountability to the industry.
On housing, Donalds said he wants to reduce government red tape to make homes easier to build and afford.
That echoed what he told WINK News earlier in the day.
“Permitting reform is a big one,” Donalds said. “We have to modernize that. We have to get out of the way of people being able to get into home ownership.”
Donalds is also trying to make affordability his pitch to voters outside the Republican Party.
Asked by WINK News how his message changes now that he needs to reach Democrats and independents, Donalds said it largely does not.
“The message has been fairly consistent. It's about affordability. It's about the future of our state,” Donalds said. “Those issues resonate, especially around affordability. They resonate with Democrats and Independents as well.”
Donalds said his campaign knocked on more than 550,000 doors during the primary and plans to keep expanding its voter outreach.
Tuesday night, he also called for Republicans to come back together after a contentious primary.
“Tonight the primary is over,” Donalds said. “Tonight, we put aside our differences. Tonight, we are one united Republican Party.”
He then turned directly to Jolly.
“The general election starts tonight,” Donalds told supporters.
And he ended with the same issue that dominated much of his speech.
“I will keep your taxes low. I will lower your insurance costs,” Donalds said. “And I will make Florida more affordable.”
