Less than a week before Election Day, Republicans hold a slim lead in Florida's governor's race, according to new polls from The New York Times and Siena University. Representative Byron Donalds, a Republican who would be Florida's first Black governor if elected, leads Democrat David Jolly by four percentage points, 48 percent to 44 percent. Seven percent of Florida voters remain undecided.
Current Governor Ron De Santis won re-election four years ago by more than 19 percentage points, but Florida has not elected a Democratic governor this century. Mr. Jolly, a former Republican who left the party in 2018 and registered as a Democrat in early 2025, is being out-raised by Mr. Donalds but is making it a competitive race.
In South Carolina, Republican Alan Wilson leads Jermaine Johnson 51 percent to 44 percent, a narrower margin than expected in a state Donald Trump won by about 18 points in 2024. In Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar holds an 18-point advantage over Lisa Demuth.
The poll also shows the Florida Senate race tighter than expected, with Senator Ashley Moody ahead of Angie Nixon by six points. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Senate race is effectively tied between Darline Graham and Annie Andrews.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing