Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly stopped by Inweekly’s office to lay out his case for why he’s the Democrat best positioned to flip Florida’s governorship.
Background: Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May is hosting Jolly today as the candidate tours the community. Jolly will hold a Meet & Greet from 5-7 p.m. tonight at the Improv, 375 Pace Blvd.
Jolly, a former Republican turned independent now running as a Democrat, believes the political environment in Florida is shifting fast, possibly as dramatically as the post-Watergate wave of 1974.
- “This could be 1974 where voters are saying, ‘Burn the ships. Let’s just go in a new direction,’“ he said. The early returns in other elections support his optimism: strong Democratic overperformance in special elections across the state and Eileen Higgins’ 19-point win in Miami point in the same direction.
Coalition Building
His campaign strategy is straightforward but notable coming from a Democrat. He argued, “You don’t have to be a Democrat to vote for a Democrat,” Jolly argued.
- He’s not asking disaffected Republicans and independents to change their registration—just to join the coalition. A former Republican U.S. Senator recently told him, “I’m never leaving my party, but this year I’m going to vote for every Democrat unless you give me a reason not to.” That kind of crossover support, Jolly says, is the engine of this race.
Campaign Pillars
His platform is built on three pillars:
- An economy that works for everyone,
- Smart government investment in education, healthcare, and housing, and
- Protection of individual rights and dignity.
What’s striking is how he’s pitching progressive policy ideas in the language of fiscal conservatism. On healthcare delivery reform and a state catastrophic fund for homeowners insurance — ideas he says could cut insurance costs by 50 to 70% — he’s getting nods from Republican voters. “Republicans are saying, ‘Yeah, that just makes good business sense,’“ he noted.
On the primary, Jolly says he’s leading every poll and outraising his Democratic opponent Jerry Demings by a 10-to-1 margin in cash on hand, expected to hit 20-to-1 by quarter’s end. He’s wary of a prolonged primary fight, not out of fear of losing, but because “we can’t have a circular firing squad.” Meanwhile, he’s happy to watch the Republican field.
- “Republicans in their primary are like four snakes in a bag right now,” he quipped.
Jolly is betting that a former Republican who speaks fluent fiscal conservatism while championing Democratic values is exactly the profile that wins in Florida in 2026. He had six months to make a compelling case.
