Latest news with #FloridaGovernor
Forbes
3 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Former GOP Rep David Jolly Explains Why He Joined FL Gov Race As A Dem & Why He Won't Bring Up Trump
Former Congressman David Jolly, who served in Congress as a Republican, is now running for governor of Florida as a Democrat. Jolly joined Brittany Lewis on "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss his campaign. Watch the full interview above.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Former GOP Congressman David Jolly launches Florida gubernatorial bid as a Democrat
Former Republican Congressman David Jolly, who represented Florida's 13th District from 2014 to 2017, is officially running for Governor of Florida as a Democrat. Jolly, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, joins a growing and diverse field in the 2026 race, which includes Republican Congressman Byron Donalds and former Democrat-turned-Independent Jason Pizzo. In an interview with CBS News Miami's Joan Murray, Jolly explained his decision to run under the Democratic banner, despite the significant voter registration gap favoring Republicans. "My values align with the Democratic Party. And I think in the state of Florida and the two-party system, the Democratic Party is the right vessel to bring about change, to lead a coalition of Democratic voters, traditional Democratic voters, independents, and common-sense Republicans. I think the Democratic Party can lead that coalition best," Jolly said. Jolly previously left the Republican Party, citing a lack of alignment with his core beliefs, and spent several years as an independent before recently registering as a Democrat. "Even when I was in Congress as a Republican, I supported marriage equality, gun control, climate science, campaign finance reform. Republicans didn't want me. Democrats didn't need me. I spent the last six or seven years as an independent, as an MPA in the state of Florida, and I love the independent thought that comes with that. You know, I say I'm for lower corporate taxes, but more gun control. That makes me left and right, and I think most voters have a real independent thought when it comes to politics, but my values have largely always aligned with the Democratic coalition," he explained. Affordability, culture and party rebuilding at center of campaign Jolly said his campaign will focus heavily on Florida's affordability crisis, a concern he says affects every community. "…In the state of Florida, that's impacting everybody, every walk of life, every community. People are concerned about their ability to afford quality housing, their ability to access a quality education, either through the public education system or through the voucher program, utility bills, car insurance. The affordability crisis in Florida is number one for voters, and it's number one for our family. We have young children. This is a lived experience for us. If we don't tackle the affordability crisis, people will continue to ask if they can raise their families in Florida. If they can continue to live in Florida." He blamed the Republican-controlled legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis for worsening the crisis. "I think Ron DeSantis has created the affordability crisis by favoring developers over responsible growth, by refusing to fix our property insurance crisis and by failing to address true property tax reform. He has created this moment." Jolly also criticized the cultural tone set under DeSantis' leadership. "I also would say that he has created a culture in Florida that does not represent the values that this state can hold. I believe in a state that lifts everybody up, that recognizes, regardless of who you love or who you worship, you're valued, and you're celebrated, that whether you moved here from another country, from another state, or were born here, you're welcome here. We're going to recognize your contribution to our state and our community. I think the culture wars have divided us. I think it's wrong in many ways. I think it's gross. I think we need to return to a value set where everybody is welcome in the state of Florida." A divided party and a crowded race Florida Democrats face steep challenges following significant losses in 2024. One of Jolly's opponents, Jason Pizzo, left the Democratic Party and declared it politically dead. In response, Jolly said, "I disagree, obviously, with Senator Pizzo, but I also will tell you this, I have enormous respect for Senator Pizzo. I respect anyone who follows their political conviction. I did that when I left the Republican Party. I understand his journey. I think he wants to bring about change in the state of Florida, and so do I. I think the way we do that is through the Florida Democratic Party." Candidates for Florida governor have until June 8–12, 2026, to qualify for the race.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
David Jolly, Trump critic and Former GOP Congressman, to Run For Florida Governor as Democrat
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A former Republican congressman and vocal critic of Donald Trump says he wants to become governor in the president's adopted home state of Florida, and that he's running as a Democrat. David Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state that in recent years has made a hard shift to the right. Under state law, term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis can't run for reelection in 2026.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A former Republican congressman and vocal critic of Donald Trump says he wants to become governor in the president's adopted home state of Florida, and that he's running as a Democrat. David Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state that in recent years has made a hard shift to the right . Under state law, term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis can't run for reelection in 2026.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A former Republican congressman and vocal critic of Donald Trump says he wants to become governor in the president's adopted home state of Florida, and that he's running as a Democrat. David Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state that in recent years has made a hard shift to the right. Under state law, term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis can't run for reelection in 2026. Even as Florida serves as a place for the Trump administration to poach staff and test policies, Jolly says he's confident that issues such as affordability, funding public schools, and strengthening campaign finance and ethics laws will resonate with all voters in 2026. He predicts elections next year will herald nationwide change. 'I actually think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us. I think we should get politicians out of the classrooms, out of the doctor's offices,' Jolly said. 'I think enough people in Florida, even some Republicans, now understand that. That the culture wars have gone too far,' he said. Jolly was first elected to his Tampa Bay-area congressional seat during a 2014 special election, and was reelected for one full term. The attorney and former lobbyist underwent a political evolution that spurred him to leave the Republican Party in 2018 to become an independent and then a registered Democrat. And he has built a national profile for himself as an anti-Trump political commentator on MSNBC. Jolly said he has considered himself 'part of the Democratic coalition' for five or so years, and believes in what he sees as the party's 'fundamental values' — that government can help people, that the economy should be 'fair' to all, and that immigrants should be celebrated. 'I struggled to exercise those values in the Republican Party,' Jolly said, continuing: 'The actual registration as a Democrat wasn't a pivot. It was a kind of a formality.' Jolly has broken from his old party on immigration, as Florida lawmakers race to help Trump fulfill his promise of mass deportations. Jolly skewered Republicans who he said have 'conflated immigration and crime,' which he described as wrong and immoral. 'If you were born here or if you immigrated here, or if you're a Tallahassee politician who steals Medicaid money, we're going to be tough on crime,' Jolly added, referring to a probe into the use of Medicaid settlement funds by a charity associated with first lady Casey DeSantis. Jolly's gubernatorial run as a Democrat draws comparisons to the failed bid of former Republican congressman-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, who lost to DeSantis in 2022 by 19 points. It was Crist, running as a Democrat, who ousted Jolly from his congressional seat in 2016. Jolly joined the Florida Democratic Party at what is arguably one of its most vulnerable points in years. Florida currently has no Democrats elected to statewide office, and there are now 1.2 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, according to the state's active voter rolls. The GOP has made significant inroads in formerly Democratic strongholds in the state, such as Miami-Dade County. The day that Jolly announced his new affiliation, the-then top Democrat in the Florida Senate, Jason Pizzo, revealed he was leaving the party, declaring that 'the Democratic Party in Florida is dead.' Pizzo, a former prosecutor, has said he'll launch his own run for governor as a candidate with no party affiliation. On the Republican side, Jolly will face Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds, who is also a frequent presence on cable news as a surrogate for the president. Among the other names floated as potential GOP candidates are former Rep. Matt Gaetz and Casey DeSantis. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
