Candidate for Governor
David Jolly
Democratic
David Jolly is a former Republican congressman from Pinellas County who left the GOP, spent several years outside both major parties and registered as a Democrat in 2025 before winning the August 2026 Democratic primary. His campaign centers on property insurance, health care access and public school funding. His running mate is former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham.
- Current or most recent role
- Former U.S. Representative; attorney and political commentator
- Running mate
- Gwen Graham (Lieutenant Governor)
- Hometown
- Pinellas County
- Campaign website
- davidjolly.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Proposes a state catastrophe fund to remove hurricane risk from the private insurance market, which he says would cut property insurance costs by about 60%.[1],[3]
- Says Florida should expand Medicaid and expand primary health care services.[1],[2]
- Says he would "dramatically increase" investment in public schools and raise teacher pay.[1]
- Calls for campaign finance and ethics reform, saying Florida's rules are among the weakest in the country.[1]
- Presents his campaign as aimed at Democrats, independents and Republicans, under the theme "This Isn't About Party. It's About People."[1],[4]
Background
- Political analyst, NBC News and MSNBC[2]
- Co-founder, Forward Party · 2022[6]
- U.S. Representative (Republican), Florida's 13th Congressional District · 2014–2017[6],[3]
- Staff member, later general counsel, Office of U.S. Rep. Bill Young[6]
- Attorney, Private practice[2]
Education
Where they stand
- HousingSupports a state catastrophe fund for natural disaster risk and a no-interest, state-backed loan program for condominium repairs.[1]
- Health CareSupports expanding Medicaid in Florida.[1]
- EducationSupports raising public school funding and teacher pay, and requiring private schools that accept vouchers to meet public school standards, with means-testing for the voucher program.[1],[3]
- Energy & EnvironmentSupports an immediate moratorium on hyperscale data center construction until environmental impacts are studied, and greater use of clean energy by utilities.[1],[5]
- AbortionSupports codifying the abortion-rights framework of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in Florida law.[1],[3]
- GunsSupports banning the sale of assault weapons, universal background checks, exploring licensing, and preserving and expanding Florida's red flag laws.[1]
- Elections & DemocracySupports making it easier for citizens to place constitutional amendments on the ballot and respecting local home rule.[1]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 3762 – Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Reconciliation bill to repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act and temporarily block some federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (U.S. House) | Yes[7] | Oct 23, 2015 |
| H.R. 3461 – Approval of the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) Bill to approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran; the House rejected it. (U.S. House) | No[8] | Sep 11, 2015 |
| H.R. 2048 – USA FREEDOM Act Ended the government's bulk collection of phone records and renewed other surveillance authorities. (U.S. House) | Yes[9] | May 13, 2015 |
| H.R. 36 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Bill to prohibit most abortions at 20 weeks after fertilization. (U.S. House) | Yes[10] | May 13, 2015 |
| H.R. 1314 – Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Raised federal spending caps for two years and suspended the debt limit. (U.S. House) | Yes[11] | Oct 28, 2015 |
| S. 1177 – Every Student Succeeds Act Replaced No Child Left Behind and gave states more control over school accountability (conference report). (U.S. House) | Yes[12] | Dec 2, 2015 |
In their words
Sources
- Issues: David Jolly's Policy Positions for Florida, David Jolly for Governor
- Meet David Jolly, David Jolly for Governor
- Jolly enters 2026 governor's race, promises 60% drop in insurance rates, WTXL, June 5, 2025
- David Jolly selects Gwen Graham as running mate in Florida governor's race, WPTV, June 10, 2026
- Byron Donalds promises insurance cuts, defends data centers as race pivots to November, WPTV, August 20, 2026
- David Jolly, Ballotpedia
- Roll Call 568 (2015): H.R. 3762, passage, Clerk of the U.S. House, October 23, 2015
- Roll Call 493 (2015): H.R. 3461, passage, Clerk of the U.S. House, September 11, 2015
- Roll Call 224 (2015): H.R. 2048, passage, Clerk of the U.S. House, May 13, 2015
- Roll Call 223 (2015): H.R. 36, passage, Clerk of the U.S. House, May 13, 2015
- Roll Call 579 (2015): H.R. 1314, motion to concur in Senate amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House, October 28, 2015
- Roll Call 665 (2015): S. 1177, conference report, Clerk of the U.S. House, December 2, 2015
- Candidate Tracking System: David Jolly, Governor, Florida Division of Elections
Photo: Official portrait, U.S. House of Representatives (Public domain (U.S. government work)).
Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for Governor
- Dean Abrams (No Party Affiliation)
- Charles Burkett (No Party Affiliation)
- Jeffrey "Dr. Jeff" Datto (No Party Affiliation)
- Moliere "Moe" Dimanche (No Party Affiliation)
- Byron Donalds (Republican)
- Scott Jewett (Libertarian)
- Frank J. Russo (No Party Affiliation)