David Jolly Announces Bid for Florida Governor in 2026 Election

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly is contemplating a run for Florida governor in the 2026 election, planning to challenge the state’s Republican leadership with a focus on issues like affordable insurance and public education. Speaking on the Anti-Social podcast, Jolly stated he will decide by Memorial Day.

Transitioning from Republican to Democrat, Jolly described this transformation as a natural evolution of his political beliefs. “I’ve considered myself part of the democratic coalition for several years now,” he said. “I was a lifelong Republican. I was elected to Congress as a Republican. To be honest, Republicans never thought I was a good enough Republican at the time.”

His departure from Republican ideology stems from his advocacy for marriage equality, gun control, and climate science. “When Donald Trump came on the scene, I had already been wrestling with the direction of the party coming out of the Tea Party years, and Donald Trump was a breaking point for me,” Jolly explained.

As he looks to the future, Jolly aims to address the pressing concerns of everyday Floridians, specifically the state’s affordability crisis and challenges facing public education. “I think the Republicans in Tallahassee have been leading us in the wrong direction,” he said. “I think we could see a real change environment and change election.”

He criticized the state’s school voucher system and the funding cuts to public schools. “We’ve defunded our public schools to the point that there really is no school choice. It’s a false choice,” he asserted.

Jolly also reflected on his shifting perspectives regarding abortion and campaign finance, stating, “I’ve changed my mind. I’ve grown. I went into Congress thinking money is speech. It should be unregulated. I’m now for public financing of campaigns.” He expressed a desire to restore the “Roe framework” concerning abortion rights. “I don’t think that infringes on someone’s personal beliefs about whether they’re pro-life or pro-choice.”

Highlighting the need for practical solutions, Jolly stated, “People in Florida just want solutions. We’re done fighting the culture wars. We just want our problems fixed, and we want Florida to be affordable again.” He expressed optimism about securing enough campaign contributions and forming a coalition capable of challenging the Republican grip on the governor’s office.

“There are a couple of dynamics here. One is people feel like maybe Florida is out of reach,” he noted. “But there are two other things happening. One is, Democrats know they cannot give up on Florida or Texas, or they lose the presidency for the next 20 years.”

Jolly emphasized his willingness to collaborate across party lines to tackle Florida’s issues. “I will work with anybody,” he said. “I think we need more money in public schools. I would ask Republicans to recognize that.”

Servicing Pinellas County from 2014 to 2017, Jolly lost to former Gov. Charlie Crist, another politician who switched parties. Crist later vied unsuccessfully for the governorship against current Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, facing a significant defeat of 59% to 40%. Jolly’s decision regarding the 2026 campaign is under keen observation, particularly as DeSantis faces term limits and the upcoming governor’s race will fill an open position.