GOP Targets Jolly
Florida Republicans Target David Jolly Early Despite Upcoming Gubernatorial Primary
Anonymous
Florida Republicans are skipping past their own primary and already taking aim at David Jolly. At a party summit in Hollywood, FL on June 27, GOP Chairman Evan Power cast the former Republican congressman — now the likely Democratic nominee for governor — as a "radical liberal" and an "imposter." Power compared him to Virginia Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger, warning Jolly would "govern like a crazy liberal," according to Tampa Bay Times.
The move is a signal: with four Republicans competing in the August 18 primary, the party's top official has already moved on to November 3. Power said Republicans "will not need to compromise" for the general election, pointing to Donald Trump's 13-point Florida win in 2024 as proof the state is "not in play."
Jolly's Long Road From Republican to Democratic Candidate
David Jolly served as a Republican congressman from 2014 to 2017. He left the GOP in September 2018, citing the party's shift under Donald Trump. He co-founded the Forward Party in 2022, then registered as a Democrat in April 2025, according to Wikipedia.
By May 2025, Jolly launched a 20-city "Florida 2026" town hall tour, per Tampa Bay Times. On June 10, he filed qualifying paperwork and named former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham — daughter of ex-Governor Bob Graham — as his running mate, CBS News reported. Jolly is positioning himself as a moderate, saying Florida needs "capable, responsible leaders willing to put the people of Florida first."
GOP Front-Runner Donalds Holds a Massive Money Edge
U.S. Representative Byron Donalds is the clear Republican front-runner. He has Donald Trump's endorsement and has dismissed Jolly as the "same old failed politician" with a "failed liberal agenda," according to CBS News. Three other Republicans are competing: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner, and investor James Fishback.
The money gap is stark. The Republican Party of Florida raised $6.3 million in a single quarter in late 2025. The Florida Democratic Party raised just $540,000 in the same period — a 10-to-1 deficit — per the Florida GOP. Republicans also lead in voter registration by 1.3 million active voters, Breitbart News reported.
A Surprising Poll and a Party Debate Controversy
Despite the structural advantages, a June 2026 Change Research poll showed Jolly leading Donalds 50% to 45% after voters heard basic biographical information about both candidates, according to Florida Politics. The result suggests Jolly's crossover appeal — built on his Republican past and moderate pitch — could be a real threat.
The primary itself has sparked internal GOP friction. Governor Ron DeSantis publicly attacked Chairman Power for canceling primary debates, saying the party "should not be insulting the intelligence of Republican voters," per Florida Politics. Investor James Fishback was disinvited from the June summit after criticizing the party's debate rules, which require $10 million raised, 10,000 donors, and 10% poll support to qualify.
Jolly Targets Insurance and Schools to Win Over Independents
Jolly's campaign is focused on kitchen-table issues. He is pushing for homeowner's insurance reform, healthcare expansion, and more public school funding — areas he says go beyond party lines, according to Florida Politics. Florida's insurance crisis has hit homeowners hard, making it a potent issue for a candidate trying to win over suburban Republicans.
If Jolly wins, he would face a Republican supermajority in the state legislature, likely producing serious gridlock, WLRN reported. Democrats have not won the Governor's Mansion since 1994. Power and the RPOF are betting that defining Jolly now — before he cements a moderate identity — is the key to keeping that streak alive.
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