David Jolly, a former Republican congressman and vocal critic of Donald Trump, has won the Democratic primary for Florida governor, positioning himself as the party's nominee to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. Jolly's victory sets up a general election contest where he aims to leverage discontent with the former president in a state that has trended Republican.
Jolly, who previously represented Florida's 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017, began publicly distancing himself from the Republican Party and Trump following his 2017 general election loss. He has identified with the "never-Trump" movement, stating in a 2018 opinion piece that one could not be both a never-Trumper and a Republican. Jolly has cited Trump's rhetoric, including the Access Hollywood tape and the proposed "Muslim ban," as reasons for his opposition.
Earlier in his career, Jolly had registered with no party affiliation before ultimately joining the Democratic Party. As a Democratic candidate, Jolly has pitched himself as an opportunity to counter Trump's influence. In a campaign video, he stated that Trump has "disrupted the entire American experiment over the last 10 years" and that a victory in Florida could provide a "reset."
On his campaign website, Jolly lists insurance affordability, public schools, and campaign finance reform as key priorities. He also supports increased access to abortion, a platform point traditionally aligned with Democrats.
Jolly's campaign has raised approximately $6.4 million. The general election is scheduled for November 3. Florida last elected a Democratic governor in 1994, with Lawton Chiles serving until his death in 1998.
Outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis won his last reelection bid in 2022 with 49.4% of the vote against Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.