Overview
- Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination and former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination in the Aug. 18 primary, creating a head‑to‑head race to replace term‑limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
- Donalds has outspent rivals by a wide margin, reporting roughly $55.8 million in spending through his campaign and committees while Jolly has raised about $10 million with under $4 million cash on hand.
- A Hart Research poll conducted Aug. 10–13 showed Jolly leading Donalds among independents 48% to 37% and ahead by one point overall in a hypothetical matchup, though other polling averages give Donalds a narrow lead.
- Data centers and industry donations have emerged as a top issue, with Jolly calling for a moratorium on large campuses and critics pointing to contributions to Donalds from AI and data‑center interests.
- Tuesday's primaries also reshaped wider stakes in Florida politics, as progressive Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman in the Senate primary and redistricting produced a more GOP‑friendly map that could affect House and Senate control in November.