Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
4hFresh reporting says David Jolly is assembling a transition team and weighing Gwen Graham as a running mate, a sign his campaign is shifting from primary mode toward general-election preparation.
94%
Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
$20.5K
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer U.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age53 years old (Oct 31, 1972)
GenderMale
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LocationFlorida
BackgroundAttorney
EducationEmory University (B.A., 1994)
Notable personal detailsDavid Wilson Jolly is an American attorney and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida's 13th congressional district from 2014 to 2017. He is a former staffer to U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young and later worked as an attorney and lobbyist, and has been a political commentator on MSNBC. In 2025 he registered as a Democrat and launched a campaign for Governor of Florida in the 2026 election cycle.
SourcesShowHide
history.house.govdavidjolly.comstatic-s3.lobbytools.comapnews.comen.wikipedia.orgcfpublic.orgmiamiherald.compbs.orgfactcheckcentral.orgcbsnews.comnews.wfsu.orgalligator.orgwcjb.comfloridaphoenix.comaxios.comwusf.orgflvoicenews.comupi.comwlrn.orgpolitico.comfox13news.comnews4jax.comfloridianpress.comyahoo.comourcommunitynow.comnews.yahoo.comx.comtwitter.comassets.apnews.comcongress.govfec.govnga.orgdocs.house.govdemocrats.senate.govfrost.house.govclerk.house.govcha.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports targeted revenue increases (taxing insurance-company profits, revising tourist development taxes, and implementing combined reporting) to fund a state catastrophic insurance fund, education, and affordability measures while opposing unconditional repeal of property taxes without revenue replacement. He has also said he favors some lower corporate taxes in general but emphasizes raising revenue from specific sectors to address Florida’s affordability and insurance crises.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to care through government programs and the ACA; backs using state resources to address healthcare deserts and preserve ACA subsidies and Medicaid expansion rather than market-only approaches.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports valuing and investing in immigrant communities, favors streamlined pathways to legal status and more open access for people seeking to contribute to the economy, and opposes conflating immigration with crime. He has said he would not require enforcement of 287(g) ICE agreements at the state level and suggested suspending such agreements pending review of due process protections.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports codifying the Roe–Casey standard into law and has said he would introduce legislation to protect abortion rights at the state level. He states abortion should be allowed until fetal viability with medical exceptions and favors keeping politicians and laws out of the doctor’s office, while endorsing parental involvement for minors with exceptions in abuse cases.
Climate & Energy
Supports the reality of human-caused climate change, favors investments in renewable and clean energy and climate resiliency, and endorses using incentives and federal funds to address disaster risk and coastal/ water issues. Emphasizes accepting climate science and expanding clean-energy and resilience measures while not explicitly endorsing Green New Deal–style fossil-fuel phaseouts in the cited materials.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports an assault-weapons ban, universal and more comprehensive background checks (including private and intra-family transfers), licensing/registration and liability insurance for gun owners, storage requirements, and expansion/preservation of red-flag laws.
Latest Insights
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 9, 2026
David Jolly is emerging as the likely Democratic nominee for Florida governor after Jerry Demings withdrew from the race. Jolly has named attorney and lobbyist Sean Pittman to lead his transition team as he prepares for the general election. Reports also say former congresswoman Gwen Graham is being considered as a possible running mate, though his campaign has not confirmed anything. Recent polls have shown Jolly in a competitive race against Republican Byron Donalds, including one tie at 40% each.
history.house.gov+36
Articles
NNews-Press9 hours ago
David Jolly taps Sean Pittman to lead future transition team
Positive
TTCPalm1 day ago
Gwen Graham named as David Jolly's running mate by pastor
Positive
NNewsweek4 days ago
Byron Donalds' Chances of Losing in Florida as Jerry Demings Exits Race
Neutral
NNewsweek1 month ago
Byron Donalds’ Chances of Beating David Jolly in Florida Governor Race-Poll
Neutral
Polls
Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
22.2%
41%
23.5%
20.2%
9%
5%
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising