Janelle Irwin Taylor
A Republican convert ran in 2022 for Florida Governor and lost by historic margins. Now, Democrats have a new convert potentially hoping to flip that script in 2026.
David Jolly, a former Republican U.S. Congressman in Florida’s 13th Congressional District who left the GOP amid his distaste for President Donald Trump, has now registered as a Democrat. He’s also launched a political committee, Florida 2026, ahead of what many expect to be a gubernatorial bid, as POLITICO first reported Thursday.
Until Wednesday, Jolly had been registered to vote without political affiliation, and he has spent his time out of elected office advocating for a variety of efforts that buck the nation’s two-party system. He also found national prominence as a frequent commentator on the left-leaning MSNBC network.
He served as Executive Director of the Serve America Movement in 2020 and as one of the co-founders of the Forward Party in 2022.
Jolly first began exploring a run for Governor last month, when he began meeting with Democratic clubs across the state. That includes the Legislative Black Caucus, a heavily Democrat-leaning group of elected officials.
“I’ve considered myself a proud member of the Democratic Coalition for years now,” Jolly told Florida Politics at the time. “The coalition I would need is essentially the same. You need Democrats, independents and kind of mainstream Republicans to build a coalition. If you do it as an NPA (no party affiliation candidate) or as a Democrat, you are still asking if you can change the state.”
Now, it seems Jolly has ruled out running as a no-party candidate. His registration as a Democrat is happening in time to run on the party’s ticket in the 2026 election.
If he runs, he’ll attempt to do what former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist could not. Crist served as Governor before Rick Scott and attempted a return to office in 2022, losing by an embarrassing 19 points to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Ironically, it was Crist who unseated Jolly from Congress in 2016 after redistricting shifted CD 13 further south, drawing in more Democrats when Jolly was a Republican. His defeat came just two years after being elected. Crist left Congress ahead of his 2022 Governor’s race, after the district shifted back north again and again handed the advantage to the GOP. Conservative Anna Paulina Luna now represents the district.
After his service in Congress, Jolly dumped the GOP to become an independent in 2018. In addition to MSNBC, he has also provided commentary for Time, USA Today, Roll Call, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, NBC and the Tampa Bay Times.
A new website launched in coordination with Jolly’s creation of a PC and his party switch. Its home page announces the committee as an effort “to engage in voter outreach and research work focused on key issues in the Sunshine State.”
Those issues include solving the state’s affordability and insurance crisis; saving schools; increasing access to state universities; restoring reproductive freedom; improving the state economy; campaign finance and ethics reform; climate resiliency, clean water and ocean economy; restoring services for veterans; reducing gun violence; and creating a Florida for all.
The list of issues reads like a campaign platform.
The site includes a signup to receive “text message updates” from the committee. It also provides links to contribute to the committee and to register to vote.
21 comments
KathrynA
April 24, 2025 at 9:34 am
I would appreciate a common sense, caring and not corrupted person to vote for–one who understands the needs of Floridians and has walked away from MAGA craziness!
Larry Gillis, Libertarian
April 24, 2025 at 9:35 am
IS IT EVOLUTION, OR IS IT AMBITION?
The usual analysis of “Party-Shoppers” is bipolar, as in: (a) is this move evolutionary, as the politician-in-question matures in his thinking (“HURRAY”), or (b) is this evidence of raw, pulsating ambition (“BOO”) ?
Frankly, I don’t care what gets this Pol (or any other Pol) outta bed in the morning. We should appreciate that his personal ambition (if any) can be the driver behind many extremely useful accomplishments for the rest of us. I mean, watching an earthworm feed itself while it is crawling underground can be pretty disgusting, but the net effect is that the dirt gets processed and we get to grow stuff.
Our duty in this case is to look at the ideas that he generates while feeding his ambition (if that’s what he is doing). If we subject them to rigorous scrutiny and then decide to make some use of them (or not), we have all benefitted.
So, with all due disclaimers: thanks, David.
Mind the gap (and carry on).
Larry Gillis, Libertarian
Maria Ruiz
April 24, 2025 at 9:50 am
Democrats are the party that has turned anti-women (letting bio men invade our female spaces and ruin our sports) and anti-worker (letting China and globalists have our jobs as well as millions of illegals thrown into our area, taking the jobs, driving up rents, food costs, education costs, health costs). Democrats have no one but purple haired freaks left.
PeterH
April 24, 2025 at 10:07 am
Fox poll has Trump’s disapproval at 55% and PEW has Trump’s disapproval at 59%. In the past two months Congressional generic polling leans Democrat in every single poll. Stay tuned!
Ms. Curry
April 30, 2025 at 11:43 pm
May I remind people that Fox is not a news network but an entertainment network. Let’s not forget they paid millions in a lawsuit for spreading lies about the election being stolen . As for the rest of your reply to Ms. Ruiz you were spot on. Thank you.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 10:10 am
This is just culture war nonsense mixed with economic scapegoating. Let’s break it down:
1.) “Anti-women” – Trans people aren’t an invasion. Most major sports organizations, like the NCAA, already have rules in place. This is fear-based distraction.
2.) “Anti-worker” – It’s billionaires and multinational CEOs offshoring jobs, not immigrants or Democrats. Both parties are guilty of catering to corporate donors.
3.) “China and globalists” – It was corporate MBAs chasing cheap labor that moved jobs overseas. Not everyday voters, not immigrants.
4.) “Illegals taking jobs and raising costs” – Most undocumented workers do jobs Americans avoid. Rents, food, education, and healthcare are rising because of corporate price gouging and housing shortages, not immigration.
5.) “Purple haired freaks” – That’s just name-calling, not a policy position.
You want to help workers? Aim at the billionaires buying both parties, not the people trying to survive. Do you really believe the drivel you just spouted would actually help people? Show me how you connect the dots to it doing so.
Own Magats
April 24, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Another magat cultist obsessed with genitalia and his orange lords tariffs lol.
Ms.Curry
April 30, 2025 at 11:49 pm
Spot on. What many of us have come to learn is that trying to talk with any maga supporter is a waste of time.
Candyce Michelle Rose
April 25, 2025 at 2:15 am
Oh, dear Lord, you are so misinformed. Please read other sources of information. No. Democrats are the party of inclusion and less drama.
Ms.Curry
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 pm
Ms. Ruiz
Your hate towards others that don’t fit into your white conservative mindset is what is tearing this Country apart. These others that you speak of have as much right to be here as you. Shame on you.
JB
April 24, 2025 at 10:54 am
This great news for Florida!!!
Deplorable Pinellas
April 24, 2025 at 12:43 pm
A lot of these Florida “Republicans” need to take jolly’s lead and change their party affiliation too. Cuz we all see that you have liberal ideology yet you asked for support from the Florida GOP. If people continually call you a rino it’s probably because you are. I commend Mr. Jolly for coming out for who he is which is a Democrat. We all knew he was a Democrat so might as well strap the right label to it. So kudos to you Jolly. You won’t win. You don’t stand a chance. But kudos nonetheless.
JD
April 24, 2025 at 12:48 pm
That’s funny coming from folks turning the Republican Party into the RPINO – Republican Party in Name Only. You traded principles for personality cults, and anyone who remembers what conservatism used to mean gets smeared as a “RINO.” Jolly didn’t change. The party did. And deep down, you know it.
Michael K
April 24, 2025 at 4:11 pm
As my father says, I didn’t leave the Republican Party, the party left me. It’s not much than a party of grifters who may “speak” to working people, but do nothing for working people. It’s big fat money, bigotry, “God” and angertainment. Nothing else.
Candyce Michelle Rose
April 25, 2025 at 2:05 am
NOT TRUE. Please read or listen to other sources besides FOX entertainment. It’s not news. It’s a joke. Jolly has been steady in his beliefs all along. You may not like him, but there’s zero proof that he’s a scumbag. He’s never been impeached. He has never been convicted of rape. He’s never been indicted for leaking classified information. He’s never been a Putin suck up. He’s never tanked our economy because he wants to act like a bad ass that thinks he knows everything.
He’s never coward down to Putin, which Trump did, that has made America look more weak than ever. I could go on and on.
The real point here is that our bar for our representatives needs to be of higher character, not just that he didn’t rape someone recently. Are you serious? Trump was convicted of rape and has committed many more crimes.
Jolly isn’t going to reconstruct the school system that would cost more than the cost of feeding the school children a less than nutritious lunch. They need a better lunch and better care, not less.
Trump thinks that school lunches should be eliminated because kids should bring their lunch. Barron, his son, has attended super expensive private schools, so Trump has no idea what it is like in real public schools. If you voted for Trump and your kids eat school lunch for free, get ready to pay up. No more free lunches. And I bet many of you voted for Trump believing he was so great that he would make sure your kid had a great life. Well, without lunch, that’s not going to happen.
Barron, his kid, has a private chef. Trump thinks if you can’t have that for your kid, too bad. No free lunch for your kid. Trump’s son, Barron, drives around in a lambo. Trump has zero idea about real issues affecting real people, and he doesn’t care.
Please, Florida, wake up. Trump or Byron is not the answer.
This is getting serious. Please pay attention.
To the people getting food stamps, disability, social security, and any other government assistance, and you are a loud and proud Trump supporter, you are by far the most misled. Trump is doing everything he can to eliminate your benefits. You may wake up one day and your government check isn’t there. Why? Doge, Trump. They don’t care about you. They are rich. They make fun of you if you can’t afford groceries. They can. So what’s the big deal?
You voted for him, not I.
Candyce Michelle Rose
April 25, 2025 at 2:17 am
No idea what your post means.
R. Russell
April 24, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Anybody but the Publicity hound, POS Congressman from Naples for Governor!!!!
CC
April 24, 2025 at 9:12 pm
No thank you, keep Florida red!!
Candyce Michelle Rose
April 25, 2025 at 2:11 am
Why? What’s so imperative that Florida is red? I really want to know. How long have you been in Florida? Why is a red state so important to you?
Ms.Curry
April 30, 2025 at 11:55 pm
I’m a 5th generation Florida Native. For many years we were a Blue State and then a Purple State. The state turned red due to gerrymandering and election fraud. Why ? Because the GOP’s policies suck and the only way they can win an election is to steal it.
Candyce Michelle Rose
April 25, 2025 at 1:09 am
I will totally vote for Jolly. He is a man with integrity and not a Trumper; I can support that. Plus I once lived next door to his parents in Tampa. He comes from a nice family that has family values. I’m a republican, but not a Trumper. I’m seriously opposed to Byron. He’s nothing but a Trump sycophant.
I have reached out to him only to get a Trump form letter back. He doesn’t care. He just wants to be popular with Trump. He wants to be an oligarch. He wants to be governor because it’s next on his list, not that he cares one bit about Floridians.
I want Florida to be independent, have clean waters, and keep our hospitality/service business flourishing. Our service industry is vital to Florida. Florida has more small businesses than most other states. Clean waters make it happen. Once our waters are so polluted that nobody can swim, we are in for a total economic meltdown.
I’m not even in the hospitality business. I’m in the legal business. However, I’ve lived in Florida all my life, Fort Myers and Tampa, to be exact, and the Trump agenda is going to kill Florida. Tourism is already down. People fear being arrested and sent to El Salvador. That is going to be crushing to Floridians and their businesses.
This is super paramount for Florida. We do not have state taxes because we have tourism. What happens when that goes away for fear of being arrested and sent to El Salvador CECOT?
State taxes? Higher homeowner taxes? Higher taxes in general?
If we do not have clean water for recreation, free tourism, and a healthy service industry, our state will collapse.
Things need to change. We are facing big problems as a nation and the supposed DEI isn’t the problem. It’s MAGA. It’s got to stop. We are less safe. Think about that. We are less safe. Nobody thinks bombs can hit here. They can. Food lines can happen here.
I will work hard to pull my precinct if we can agree on what really matters.
Clean water, clean environment, safe schools and neighborhoods. If the governor can handle that, we can handle the rest.
Floridians are a sturdy bunch, but making a living wage with the government working against us is makes it impossible to survive.
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