Former Rep. David Jolly, who served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 13th congressional district from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican, has launched a bid for Florida governor as a Democrat. “I’m Democrat David Jolly, and I’m launching my campaign today for Governor of Florida,” Jolly said. “Our state is in crisis — not just a crisis of policy, not right versus left, but a crisis of right versus wrong. It doesn’t have to be this way,” he added. WATCH: I’m Democrat David Jolly, and I’m launching my campaign today for Governor of Florida. Our state is in crisis — not just a crisis of policy, not right versus left, but a crisis of right versus wrong. It doesn’t have to be this way. pic.twitter.com/Rkql5eaFD2 — David Jolly (@davidjollyfl) June 5, 2025 Per Roll Call: Jolly was first elected to the House in a 2014 special election to succeed his former boss, the late Republican Rep. C.W. Bill Young. He won a full term to his Tampa-area seat that November but lost reelection two years later to former Gov. Charlie Crist, himself a former Republican who by then had become a Democrat. In between, Jolly briefly ran for Senate in 2016 but dropped out shortly before Republican incumbent Marco Rubio decided to seek a second term after his presidential hopes were dashed that year. Since leaving the House, Jolly has become a noted Trump critic and has appeared as a commentator on MSNBC. With his announcement, Jolly becomes the second high-profile former Republican in as many cycles to run for Florida governor as a Democrat. Crist gave up his House seat in 2022 to challenge DeSantis, but lost by nearly 20 points as Republicans dominated throughout the state. That dominance continued in 2024, with Trump carrying the state by double digits, four years after besting Joe Biden by just 3 points. Democrats, meanwhile, hold no statewide elected offices in Florida and haven’t won a governor’s race since 1994. “David Jolly is an anti-Trump, radical leftist who wants to raise your taxes, allow illegals to pour across our border, take school choice away from families, ban guns, and bring woke ideology to Florida. He’s completely out of touch with Florida’s voters and our values,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said. “Florida is Trump Country, and I am proudly endorsed by President Trump to be Florida’s next Governor. As Governor, I will fight side by side with President Trump to protect Florida families and Make America Great Again,” he added. David Jolly is an anti-Trump, radical leftist who wants to raise your taxes, allow illegals to pour across our border, take school choice away from families, ban guns, and bring woke ideology to Florida. He's completely out of touch with Florida's voters and our values. Florida… — Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) June 5, 2025 NBC News reports: Jolly is not only the first major Democrat to enter the 2026 race; he may have a somewhat easy path to the nomination. Former state Sen. Jason Pizzo, who has considerable personal wealth, recently left the party and has said he is running for governor as an independent, removing a potential obstacle who had been considered one of the top-tier potential Jolly opponents in a primary. After having spent years as one of the country’s most tightly divided swing states, Florida has become an overwhelmingly GOP-dominated state. Republicans control all levers of power in state government, and Democrats have not held the Governor’s Mansion since the late 1990s. Jolly, however, thinks a focus away from the sort of culture war-driven, sharp-elbowed politics that has defined Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ two terms in office is a way to break through. “This is a different type of issue-driven, results-focused campaign, and it will be driven not by anger and division but by optimism and solutions,” Jolly said. “We are building a new coalition of Floridians who deeply care about their state and are desperate for real answers to real problems that are putting our quality of life at risk.” On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has already announced he is running for governor, and he quickly picked up an endorsement from Trump. He has raised over $15 million and is considered the front-runner on the GOP said, even as DeSantis’ wife, Casey, considers her own campaign for governor.