Florida Governor Race Stays Tight as Early Voting Continues
Byron Donalds and David Jolly are campaigning across the state while 3.5 million residents have already cast ballots.
By Layla Petrov ·
The Florida governor’s race remains closely contested as early voting continues into the final week before the Nov. 3 election. About 3.5 million Floridians have already submitted their ballots, according to official state figures. Republicans currently hold a slight lead in those early numbers.
Republican candidate Byron Donalds traveled to Hialeah on Wednesday to rally supporters in Miami-Dade County. He arrived by campaign bus, where cameras captured him greeting the crowd. Running mate Bryan Avila, a former state senator, addressed the audience alongside local officials. Avila urged the cheering listeners to ensure Donalds becomes the next governor of the state.
Donalds told reporters he is targeting independent voters in addition to Republicans. He argued that independents care deeply about living in Florida but seek greater affordability. He pointed to his party’s plans to reduce insurance and housing costs as a key differentiator against his opponent. Donalds stated that getting people to the polls is the primary goal for his team right now.
Guest speaker Donald Trump Jr. was scheduled to speak at the Hialeah event. The rally is designed to boost Republican turnout in the county, a critical battleground in the state.
In the northern part of the state near Daytona Beach, Democratic candidate David Jolly held his own rally. He stood alongside running mate Gwen Graham, who called on the crowd to support Jolly for the top job. Jolly said he aims to end a three-decade Republican hold on the governor’s mansion. He described the race as a toss-up, emphasizing that the outcome depends on which side mobilizes more voters.
Jolly told supporters that the election represents a chance to restore basic opportunities for economic and personal freedom. He repeated that the vote is decided by the people who show up. Both candidates plan to continue traveling across the state in the days leading up to Election Day. Current polling data shows the race is within two to four points, with Donalds holding a narrow advantage.
