Donalds, Jolly Win Governor Primaries, Will Face Off In General Election
August 19, 2026
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds fended off challenges from 10 other Republicans in Tuesday’s primary to carry his party’s nomination for governor into the general election.
He’ll face former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a former Republican who switched parties and easily defeated five other Democrats.
Donalds called on Republicans to come together and immediately focused on Jolly.
“Now is the time for the Republican Party to unite. By working together, we can make Florida more affordable and defend the Florida Dream for our families, seniors, and young people,” Donalds posted on X. “My Democrat (sic) opponent would raise taxes, make life more expensive, and bring the Democrats’ radical left agenda to the Sunshine State – Florida cannot afford Liberal David Jolly.”
Donalds, 47, faced vocal opposition from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and conservative activist James Fishback.
As of Tuesday evening, Donalds had 48 percent of the vote, while Collins received 25 percent, Fishback had 10 percent and Renner had 9 percent.
Jolly, 53, brushed aside his opposition, taking 62 percent of the vote. The next-largest vote-getter in the Democratic primary was Dayna Marie Foster, who received 15 percent, and state Rep. Dotie Joseph of North Miami garnered 10 percent.
Jolly also was eager to pivot to the general election.
“We’re a state gripped by an affordability crisis and exhausted by culture wars. People want change,” Jolly said in a video posted on X.
Backed by an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Donalds dominated the field and easily outraised his opponents, raking in more than $110 million. Much of the money he spent in the primary was aimed at Jolly, with ads bashing him for supporting transgender issues, such as allowing transgender women in women’s bathrooms and to play in female sports.
But Donalds bore the brunt of attacks from Collins and Renner, who accused him of being weak on crime, favoring data center construction and slammed him for refusing to debate them.
At one point Collins sued to kick Fishback off the ballot, alleging his voting record in Washington D.C. in 2020 and the purchase of a primary residence there in 2021 showed he didn’t live for seven consecutive years in Florida as required by the state constitution. A Leon County judge, though, rejected the suit saying there wasn’t enough evidence.
Collins campaigned heavily on his military background as a Green Beret who had his leg amputated due to injuries sustained in Iraq, as well as his appointment by DeSantis at lieutenant governor in August 2025. He even tapped DeSantis’ Director of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, to be his running mate on Monday evening.
But DeSantis never formally endorsed Collins or anyone else in the campaign, although he specifically criticized Donalds.
After initially saying Renner’s decision to enter the race in 2025 was misguided, DeSantis this month said he would make a “good governor.”
Renner touted his term as Speaker in 2022-2024 in which much of DeSantis’ conservative agenda was passed, including universal school vouchers, bans on transgender surgery for minors, eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and a bill allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a license.
The efforts of Donalds’ opponents, however, ran into a wall of campaign ads and implicit trust in Trump among the GOP electorate.
In the Democratic primary, Jolly waltzed to victory over Foster and Joseph, who got in the race at the end of qualifying, after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropped out due to a cancer diagnosis.
Joseph wanted to give Democrats an alternative to Jolly, a former Republican who moved away from the GOP as Trump rose to prominence. But she had minimal fundraising and low name recognition throughout the state.
by Gray Rohrer, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Byron Donalds (left) and David Jolly.
Patronis Wins Primary, Will Face Valimont In November
August 19, 2026
U.S. House District 1 incumbent Jimmy Patronis won the GOP primary on Tuesday to head to the general election.
Patronis received 71.14% of the vote, easily defeating challengers John Frankman (19.51%) and Douglas Chico (9.35%).
Patronis will face Democrat Gay Valimont in November.
District 2 Escambia Commissioner Kohler Wins Republican Primary
August 19, 2026
Incumber Escambia County Commissioner Mike Kohler won the Republican primary on Tuesday.
Escambia Commissioner District 2
- Mike Kohler 62.26% ✅
- Glenn Dorsey 37.74%
In November, Kohler will face Democratic challenger Mathious Robinson.
Dangerous Heat Index Values With Afternoon Storm Chances Through Friday
August 19, 2026
Dangerously hot conditions and typical late-summer storm chances will dominate the North Escambia area over the next few days, with heat index values expected to peak between 106 and 110 degrees through Thursday before storm chances slightly ease heading into the weekend.
A heat advisory is in effect for Wednesday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 110. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.