Former Republican David Jolly launches long-shot bid for Florida governor as a Democrat

Democrats face a huge uphill climb in 2026 to retake Florida’s governorship for the first time in more than two decades, but David Jolly says he is up to the challenge.

Democrats face a huge uphill climb in 2026 to retake Florida’s governorship for the first time in more than two decades, but David Jolly says he is up to the challenge.

Jolly, a former Republican congressman who left the party in large part because of his opposition to President Donald Trump, is announcing Thursday that he is running for governor, making him the first notable Democrat to get into the race.

“Let’s end the politics of division and return Florida to voters who simply want an economy that works, the best education system in the world, safe communities and a government that stays out of their doctor’s offices and family decisions,” Jolly said.

He said he wants to focus on lowering housing and insurance costs, boosting public education funding and “implementing new gun safety measures.”

Jolly was a Republican member of Congress from the Tampa area from 2014 to 2017. In a bit of political irony, he lost his seat to former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist, like Jolly, left the Republican Party to run as a Democrat. He made failed Democratic bids for governor in 2014 and 2022.