The U.S. has never elected a Black Republican governor. Will Florida be the first?

Despite Byron Donalds’ clear advantages, some forecasters have been shifting their projections in the direction of Democrat David Jolly.

by Kate Payne October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

By many measures, Florida seems like an ideal place for Rep. Byron Donalds to make history as the first Black Republican ever elected governor. President Donald Trump’s adopted home state has lunged to the right in recent years, netting the GOP an advantage of 1.5 million active registered voters. Under term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis’ leadership, […]

"Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium with microphones during an outdoor press conference."

News & Views

While DeSantis called Hope Florida scandal a ‘hoax,’ state officials were spending thousands to keep it quiet, records show

State purchasing records show a flurry of payments to private law firms hired to represent public officials scrutinized by a grand jury.

by Kate Payne October 13, 2026October 13, 2026

A wide landscape photograph by Del Harper showing an outdoor electric power substation set in a grassy field near sunset in St. Petersburg, Florida. Captured from across an expansive green lawn in the foreground, the image features tall wooden utility poles, steel support frames, high-voltage power lines, and electrical transformers stretching across the horizon under a hazy blue and warm yellow-tinted sky.

News & Views

New Florida law to protect consumers from data center costs faces its first test

The case before Florida’s Public Service Commission is weighing whether Duke Energy plans to do enough to shield customers from the costs of data centers, including one planned for Fort Meade

by Kate Payne and The Florida Trib August 31, 2026August 31, 2026

Best of the bay 2026 is here. Check out the Winners And FinalistS!

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?