Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
22.2%
41%
23.5%
20.2%
9%
5%
Democrat
David Jolly
Democrat
David Jolly
Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
$27.1K
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
EducationB.A., Emory University (1994)
Notable personal detailsDavid W. Jolly is a former U.S. Representative from Florida’s 13th congressional district, elected in a 2014 special election and serving through January 2017. Before Congress, he worked as a staff member for U.S. Rep. C. W. “Bill” Young and later practiced law. He earned a B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. from George Mason University. In 2025–2026, he entered Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democratic candidate and selected former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate.
SourcesShowHide
history.house.goven.wikipedia.orgwusf.orgfec.govmiamiherald.comwgcu.orgcbsnews.comspokesman.comlocal10.compbs.orgfloridapoliticalreview.comaxios.comwctv.tvmartincountydemocrats.orgstatic-s3.lobbytools.comufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edubhfs.comdavidjolly.comflvoicenews.comupi.comwlrn.orgpolitico.comfox13news.comnews4jax.comapnews.comfloridianpress.comyahoo.comfloridaphoenix.comourcommunitynow.comnews.yahoo.comabcnews.go.comsfchronicle.comwsj.comcongress.govsubstack.govtrack.usgovinfo.govnga.orgfrost.house.govenergy.senate.govwhitehouse.senate.govclerk.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.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
David Jolly is emerging as the likely Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2026 after Jerry Demings withdrew from the primary. He has now named former congresswoman Gwen Graham as his running mate and Sean Pittman to help lead transition planning. The campaign is trying to build a centrist, statewide coalition, but it faces a big Republican voter-registration and fundraising advantage.
history.house.gov+40
Articles
VVox.com18 days ago
The case that Florida is ready to turn blue again
Positive
TDTallahassee Democrat24 days ago
Jolly-Graham ticket tests new path in Florida governor race
Neutral
PPOLITICO24 days ago
Jolly picks Gwen Graham for running mate on Dem Florida governor ticket
Positive
HHerald-Tribune25 days ago
David Jolly taps Sean Pittman to lead future transition team
Positive
Polls
Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of David Jolly for Florida Democratic Governor nominee?
Ellen Freidin, Jane Moscowitz, Donna Shalala, and Barbara Zdravecky
Elected official
The four Florida reproductive-rights advocates endorsed David Jolly for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising