David Jolly, a former Republican congressman and prominent critic of Donald Trump, has officially entered the race for Florida Governor in the 2026 elections, this time running as a Democrat. Jolly made the announcement on Thursday June 5 2025, positioning himself as a moderate alternative to the Republican Party's hardline direction and expressing faith that key issues like affordability, public education and campaign finance reform will cut across party lines.

His campaign signals a high-stakes attempt by Democrats to regain influence in a state that has shifted significantly to the right in recent years. Under Florida law, incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election in 2026, leaving the field open for new contenders.

A political transformation and break from Trumpism

David Jolly’s political journey has been marked by a steady break from the Republican establishment. Initially elected to represent Florida’s Tampa Bay region in 2014, Jolly served a full term in the House of Representatives. By 2018, disillusioned with Trump-era politics, he left the GOP to become an independent, and later a registered Democrat.

His decision to run as a Democrat comes after years of national visibility as an anti-Trump political analyst on MSNBC. He described his transition to the Democratic Party as natural and ideological, stating that he had already aligned with the Democratic coalition’s values for several years.

"I struggled to exercise those values in the Republican Party," Jolly said. He added that belief in government as a force for good, economic fairness, and celebration of immigrants are core principles that drew him to the Democrats.

Focus on real issues over culture wars

Jolly’s campaign pitch is sharply critical of Republican culture war tactics, particularly in education and health care. "I actually think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us," he said, calling for an end to political interference in classrooms and doctors' offices.

He argued that a growing number of Floridians, including Republicans, are beginning to see through the divisive rhetoric. "The culture wars have gone too far," he noted, saying the state needs leadership focused on real-life issues, not ideological battles.

Jolly is aiming his message at moderates, independents and disillusioned conservatives, while hoping to energise Democrats who have become increasingly demoralised in the state.

A tough road ahead for Florida Democrats

Despite his message of unity and reform, Jolly is entering a deeply challenging political landscape. Florida Democrats have not won a statewide election since 2018, and the party currently holds no major statewide office. According to official voter data, there are now 1.2 million more registered Republicans than Democrats in the state.

His entry is also drawing comparisons to Charlie Crist, another former Republican congressman who became a Democrat but lost to Ron DeSantis by a staggering 19-point margin in 2022. Ironically, Crist was the one who defeated Jolly in the 2016 congressional race.

Further complicating matters, internal fractures within the Democratic Party are surfacing. On the same day Jolly announced his run, Florida Senate’s top Democrat Jason Pizzo publicly exited the party, stating that “the Democratic Party in Florida is dead”. Pizzo plans to contest the governor’s race as an independent candidate, potentially splitting the anti-GOP vote.

Republican opposition and the Trump effect

On the Republican side, Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump ally and cable news regular, is currently seen as the frontrunner. Other potential GOP names include Rep. Matt Gaetz and Casey DeSantis, wife of the outgoing governor. Each brings high name recognition, strong ties to Trump, and significant fundraising capacity to the table.

Jolly directly addressed the GOP’s hard stance on immigration, which he called immoral and dangerous. He condemned how some Republicans conflate immigration with crime, pledging a balanced approach to law enforcement.

"If you were born here or if you immigrated here, or if you're a Tallahassee politician who steals Medicaid money, we're going to be tough on crime," Jolly quipped, in a pointed jab at first lady Casey DeSantis, referencing an alleged scandal involving Medicaid settlement funds and a charity linked to her.

Charting a new course

With his announcement, David Jolly has stepped into a risky but potentially transformational role in Florida politics. He claims that 2026 could be a year of nationwide change, and hopes that Florida—a state many now consider solidly red—can once again become competitive for Democrats.

His candidacy will test whether moderate, anti-Trump Republicans-turned-Democrats can win back centrist voters while also galvanising the party’s base. For Jolly, it is both a personal evolution and a political gamble—but one he believes is worth taking for the future of Florida

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