—Escambia County native to co-lead economic development platform in David Jolly’s gubernatorial bid—
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May has been tapped to co-lead the Community Development and Economic Empowerment platform for former Congressman David Jolly’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign, partnering with Pinellas County Commissioner René Flowers.
The announcement positions May as a significant voice in a campaign that’s centering its message on affordability, education, and economic opportunity across Florida.
From Local Leadership to Statewide Influence
May’s selection reflects his deep roots in Northwest Florida’s business and civic community. As owner of Mays Construction, he understands the challenges facing small business owners and working families.
His work advancing small business growth and workforce development initiatives in Northwest Florida has already shown his commitment to inclusive economic development, making him a natural fit for a campaign that promises to address what Jolly has called the state’s “culture wars” with practical solutions for everyday Floridians.
“Congressman Jolly understands that economic development in Florida means different things to different communities,” May said in a statement. “Our Pensacola community has seen his commitment to us, and I know we’ve got an opportunity to have a Governor fully committed to lifting up everyone in this state.”
Building a Broader Coalition
May joins an expanding leadership team that includes Tallahassee attorney Sean Pittman and State Senator Tina Polsky as campaign co-chairs, alongside existing chairs Mitchell Berger and Mike Abrams. The team also features prominent community leaders like Veteran Gay Andrews, Rev. R.B. Holmes as Faith Leadership Chair, and Jacksonville NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin as senior advisor on civil rights.
The diverse coalition signals an intentional strategy to build support across Florida’s varied regions and communities—a recognition that the state’s economic development challenges look different in Escambia County than they do in South Florida’s urban centers.
What’s Next
The campaign has indicated that additional leadership teams will be announced in coming weeks, focusing on housing affordability, public health, K-12 education, and environmental policy. The Jolly campaign has also prioritized higher education reform, with appointments of Laurence Humphries and Suzanne Lewis to shape the state university system agenda.
For May, this role represents an opportunity to bring Northwest Florida’s perspective to a statewide conversation about Florida’s future.
