Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly sells out St. Pete forum

Florida’s leading Democratic candidate in the 2026 governor’s race discussed his journey across the political aisle and several hot-button issues Monday in St. Petersburg.

The nonpartisan Suncoast Tiger Bay Club provided an ideal platform for former Congressman David Jolly, who began his career as a centrist Republican. A sold-out crowd at the St. Petersburg Museum of History heard the Pinellas County native’s stance on abortion, culture wars, affordability, corruption and his ability to secure a solid-red state’s top office. 

Jolly, most recently known for his political punditry, left MSNBC and announced his gubernatorial candidacy in early June. He began Monday evening’s event by highlighting “foundational values” that have informed his campaign and “this coalition.” 

“First, the economy should work for everybody, not just the wealthiest among us,” Jolly said. “That’s not to condemn success either. That means capitalism, folks, a capitalist economy that is fair and lifts everybody up.” 

He discussed his journey from Republican to Independent to unabashed Democrat early and often. Jolly noted that “one of the things I got wrong early on” was his belief in the “equality of opportunity, as though that’s the end of the book.” 

Jolly said equality of opportunity requires policy change when a person’s zip code is a primary determinant of their socioeconomic status and health. He also believes the government, which provides vital services for seniors, veterans, storm victims and families, “actually has a role in our lives – we pay for it.” 

“And third, the most basic, most simple and most heartbreaking that we’ve gotten away from this, we should be a state, we should be a nation and I’m proud to be in the Democratic Party where we believe everybody should be lifted up and celebrated regardless of the color of your skin, where you were born, who you love and who you worship,” Jolly said to raucous applause. 

The St. Petersburg Museum of History hosted the sold-out Suncoast Tiger Bay event.

He told attendees that Florida residents are not “litigating the President of the United States” when they choose a new governor. Jolly’s competition currently includes Republican Rep. Byron Donalds and Sen. Jason Pizzo, who has no party affiliation. 

Jolly believes he can occupy the governor’s mansion because “voters are screaming for change.” He listed attacks on democracy and home rule, an ongoing affordable housing crisis, a homeowner’s insurance market “that is collapsing and not coming back,” and investments in environmental resiliency, transit and public education among the issues voters will decide in November 2026. 

“No amount of money can stop a movement,” Jolly said. “I believe in the State of Florida, in this cycle, we have the opportunity to launch a political movement in the state that can’t be stopped. 

“The only poll that we give credence to thus far … is actually commissioned by Byron Donalds, and it has us with five points, 14 months out. That was our target – next February. If we are showing single-digit numbers next spring, you can bet they’re going to hit us with everything they got.” 

Jolly pledged to end culture wars “on day one,” and recognizes that all residents contribute to Florida’s culture and economy. That will require firing “virtually all” of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees, particularly those within the state’s university system. 

The son of a preacher, Jolly stressed that he and his family remain devout Christians. However, his faith “stops at the state house door” and he wants his children exposed to diverse beliefs. 

Similarly, Jolly now realized that women deserve reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. “I would be the first pro-choice governor in the State of Florida in about 50 years,” he said. 

Joe Hamilton (left), publisher of the St. Pete Catalyst and Poliverse, posed questions to David Jolly.

Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton led a brief question-and-answer segment and noted that many of Jolly’s priorities counter presidential initiatives. For example, Jolly said it is wrong for politicians to claim they are tough on crime while “simply attacking our immigrant communities.” 

Hamilton questioned how he would take the president “out of the race.” Jolly said he will be the adult in the room and focus on policy issues rather than mud-slinging. 

“That is how I think we actually build a coalition where people say, ‘Look, maybe I voted for (Donald) Trump. Maybe I’d vote for him again. Maybe I’m going to vote for the Republican Senate nominee. But every time I hear Jolly open up his mouth, he’s talking about real problems in the State of Florida. So, I trust him to lead,’“ Jolly elaborated. 

Jolly represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017. In 2020, the state legislature redrew the district, which no longer includes St. Petersburg. 

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna now leads a bright red district that encompasses western Pinellas County. Texas and California have waged a mid-term redistricting war, and Jolly advocated for an independent commission to oversee what was historically a decennial process.

“I think it’s a nuclear arms race right now,” he added. “So, for Democratic governors to respond to what Republican governors are doing – God bless them. Meet fire with fire. But what I hope happens is somehow we end this national debate by having states adopt an independent redistricting process.”  

Jolly introduced the bipartisan “Stop Act” in 2016 to prohibit federally elected officials from soliciting campaign contributions. He argued that schmoozing donors detracted from their jobs and invited corruption. 

Jolly called Tallahassee the “swampiest state capital in the country.” He also “lost all of my friends” in Washington, D.C., for pushing the Stop Act, and is not afraid to take the same stance in Florida. 

“If Florida’s voters elect a Democratic governor, the entire town changes because Republican legislators don’t have to worry about me – they have to worry about their voters,” Jolly said. “That means a radical campaign finance and transparency package that we put in front of the Republican legislature, and we ask them to explain to their voters why they’re going to stand in the way.”