Ex-Republican David Jolly Runs for Florida Governor as Democrat to Revive Battleground Status

David Jolly, a former Republican now running for Florida governor as a Democrat, is campaigning across the state to revive its former political battleground status, according to recent reporting from the Associated Press.

Jolly’s campaign stops have included events in Leesburg, a chandeliered ballroom in The Villages retirement community, and Hillsborough County, according to the Associated Press. The candidate has faced pointed questions from voters about his political shifts. During a stop at a manufactured home community in Leesburg, 71-year-old independent voter Cyn Doyle pressed Jolly on whether he would change course like other politicians, according to the Associated Press.

“How can you assure us that you won’t become another John Fetterman?” Doyle asked, as reported by the Associated Press.

Jolly responded by defending his political evolution, stating, as reported by the Associated Press: Change is part of my journey. What I can tell you is that the values I speak of — that the economy should work, that government can do a little bit to improve our lives and that everyone should have the right to be protected — those are the guideposts for how I’ll serve as governor. Doyle ultimately left the event impressed by his remarks, according to the Associated Press.

Financial and Electoral Hurdles in the Governor’s Race

Jolly faces significant financial and mathematical obstacles in his bid, according to the Associated Press. His likely opponent is Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump-backed candidate in Tuesday’s Republican primary who would become Florida’s first Black governor if elected, according to the Associated Press. Financial disclosures show Donalds has raised more than $100 million compared to Jolly’s $10 million, as reported by the Associated Press.

Donalds’ campaign has framed Jolly as an out-of-touch liberal, utilizing state-wide advertisements highlighting Jolly’s past remarks on gender-affirming care and his support for communities painting rainbow crosswalks, according to the Associated Press. Jolly has pushed back against these attacks, arguing that Donalds is ignoring pressing economic concerns in Florida, as reported by the Associated Press.

Discussing the state’s ban on transgender girls and women participating in female teams at public schools and universities, Jolly acknowledged during an interview with the Associated Press that there is currently no political will to reverse the restriction. However, he drew a distinction regarding local youth sports leagues, stating, according to the Associated Press: If a 10- or 12-year-old soccer league in the community has a coed team, I don’t think the governor should be throwing a flag on the field.

Shifting Political Landscape and Voter Exhaustion

Florida spent a generation as a prized political battleground before shifting firmly to the right under President Donald Trump, who won the state three times with expanding margins, according to the Associated Press. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis secured a 19-percentage-point victory in 2022, cementing a Republican supermajority in the state legislature, as reported by the Associated Press.

Despite Republican dominance, some voters have expressed exhaustion with culture-war politics that defined the DeSantis administration, including battles over gender and sexual orientation and a feud with Disney, according to the Associated Press. Karen Kuhn, a 72-year-old resident of The Villages, told the Associated Press that she feels a sense of despair regarding the current political climate.

Democrats have found recent success in a series of special elections across Miami, Palm Beach, and Tampa, bolstering party optimism, according to the Associated Press. Former GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo noted to the Associated Press that shifting dynamics—such as Latino voter reactions to immigration enforcement tactics—could make future statewide contests more competitive.

I definitely can see a scenario where it’s a closer race, where it’s a competitive race, Curbelo said, according to the Associated Press.