Goodbye Ron DeSantis: The Democrats' Favorite Candidate to Become Florida Governor

David Jolly, a former Republican, has emerged as the Democratic Party's leading candidate to become the next governor of Florida, with primary elections set for August 18.

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They have made me a stronger, smarter advocate for change, and we are going to continue to do that.

Jolly, who switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in April 2025, is campaigning on proposals for significant reforms. His platform emphasizes historic changes to housing insurance and increased investment in public community schools.

Born in Dunedin, Florida, in 1972, Jolly has a background in law and extensive experience as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC. His political career began with the Republican Party, serving as a U.S. Representative for the Tampa Bay area from 2014 to 2017. During his tenure, he was noted for bipartisan work on campaign finance reform, gun violence prevention, reproductive freedom, and environmental issues.

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This is a campaign that will look and feel different from the inside and the outside.

After losing his re-election bid in 2016, Jolly left the Republican Party in 2018, becoming an independent. He dedicated several years to organizing voters around issues of democratic protection, electoral reform, and combating gerrymandering. His campaign for governor, launched in June 2025, aims to present a distinct approach to governance, focusing on change and broader political engagement.

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I think we will be safer with a divided government.