Former Republican Rep. David Jolly is considering running in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democrat, according to Politico.
Jolly told Politico in an interview published Tuesday that he would likely make a final decision about whether or not to launch a gubernatorial bid within the next several weeks. Notably, Jolly has been a longtime critic of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.
“I am very seriously considering a run for governor,” Jolly told Politico.
It remains to be seen whether Jolly would be able to muster enough support from Floridians if he decides to launch his own gubernatorial campaign, as Florida voted for Trump — a Florida resident — for three consecutive presidential elections by increasingly wide margins. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump secured 56.1% of Florida’s votes, while former Vice President Kamala Harris won 43%.
“It’s clear to me there is a coalition of Floridians that want change,” Jolly told the outlet.
Jolly is likely to face intense competition if he enters into the race to replace term-limited DeSantis, as Trump has already endorsed Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, who confirmed in February that he will be running for governor. Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady, has signaled that she is considering launching her own bid in Florida’s gubernatorial race.
Jolly announced that both he and his wife were departing from the Republican Party in 2018 after serving Florida’s 13th Congressional District from 2014-2017, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The former Congressman has publicly criticized Trump over several years, including expressing concern during an August 2024 appearance on MSNBC over the possibility that his young daughter might have to live through a second Trump presidency.
The Democratic Party has been struggling to present a unified message to voters since Trump defeated Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Some recent surveys have shown that Democratic lawmakers are currently viewed unfavorably by the majority of their constituents.
Relatedly, the Democratic Party’s approval rating recently dropped to just 29%, marking a new record low, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS released on March 16.
The Florida gubernatorial election is set to take place on Nov. 3, 2026.
Jolly did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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