July 20th. 2026 Len’s Political Note #826 David Jolly Florida Governor
2026 General Election
David Jolly and running mate Gwen Graham
In 2016, the year that Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, David Jolly, still a Republican, ran for reelection to Congress from his southwest Florida district. He had taken a brief detour to consider a run for the Senate seat when it appeared that Marco Rubio would vacate his Senate seat for a run for President. In that Congressional election, David Jolly lost to Democrat Charlie Crist.
Crist had been a Republican. As a Republican, Crist was elected Attorney General in 2002 and as governor in 2006. He lost a primary run for the US Senate to Marco Rubio in 2010.
As he endorsed Barack Obama for President, Charlie Crist explained that he was not leaving the Republican Party, the Republican Party had left him. In 2014, he ran for Governor as a Democrat and lost to the then Governor (now US Senator) Rick Scott.
After his loss to Charlie Crist, David Jolly spent time as a political pundit and critic of the new President, Donald Trump. His personal life had changed as had his political life. In 2014 he and his wife divorced. In 2015, he married Laura Donahoe, with whom he had worked when they were both at the Washington DC based lobbying firm Van Scoyoc Associates before he ran for Congress. In 2018, he dropped his membership in the Republican Party while working for the Tampa based Shumaker Advisors not exactly as a lobbyist, supporting such initiatives as a new baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. He settled in and was raising a family.
It was not until 2025, that David Jolly registered as a Democrat. Two months later, he announced he was running for Governor. Unlike Charlie Crist, David Jolly did not claim the Republican Party had left him. David Jolly said he had changed his views. These changes were not a simple matter for the son of a Southern Baptist Preacher and the brother of the well-known blind author and bible -study speaker Jennifer Rothschild. Formerly, he thought that opposition to abortion was central to being Christian. No longer. He supported reproductive freedom and remained a Christian. Formerly, he had seen the 2nd amendment as supporting gun ownership with few limitations. After the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub, he came to support a variety of measures that were intended to ensure gun safety while still respecting the authority of the 2nd Amendment. Other changes were last stark. As a moderate Republican, he had already supported same sex marriage, had been considering ways to moderate the impact of money on campaigns, and opposed offshore drilling.
Very nearly a model of bi-partisan work when he was in Congress, one Democratic colleague with whom he had worked particularly closely was Gwen Graham, daughter of Bob Graham who had been Florida’s Governor for 16 years in the 1970s and 80s. Two Congressional moderates then, now she agreed to run as his Lt. Governor.
Though he has a BA from Emory and a JD from George Mason, David Jolly’s most thorough education was through his work in Congress. From the year after he graduated from college through five years after his graduation from law school, he was an aide to and eventually general counsel for Florida Congressman and long-time Appropriations Committee Chair Bill Young. David Jolly learned to be a tight-fisted moderate. Eventually, he left his work with Congressman Young and joined the Washington DC based lobbying firm Van Scoyoc Associates in 2006. Eight years later he took the opportunity of a special election to run successfully for Congress.
David Jolly might say fiscal sanity runs through his campaign with:
Proposals to solve Florida’s most serious affordability crisis – property insurance — through a state catastrophe fund.
Proposals to increase investment in public schools – funding public schools while fixing the voucher program which, David Jolly says, is built on an economic model likely to collapse.
Proposals for campaign finance and ethics reform in a system which David Jolly describes as legalized graft.
Proposals to widen Florida’s economy by creating a technology sector in addition to growing its tourist sector.
David Jolly is not angry. Nor is he charismatic. He is a professional. He knows how to persuade. He knows how to achieve compromises. He is a Democratic candidate for Florida’s highest post – Governor.
David Jolly has no serious primary opposition. Mayor Jerry Demings, who was providing a challenge, dropped out for family reasons. The Republican candidate, on the other hand, Congressman Byron Donalds is seeking to become Florida’s first Black Governor. He starts the Issues section of his website with “Enact the Trump Agenda.” He has built a total of $66 million dollars in his official campaign. David Jolly has $2 million in his official campaign funds.
Despite the money difference, the polls are relatively close. In May, Donalds led in a Republican funded poll by 8 points. In another poll in May, David Jolly led by 4 points. In June, in another Republican funded poll, Donalds led by 5. DONATE to David Jolly’s campaign. As he raises money, David Jolly could make a serious run.
Other Governorships: There are four giant states. All four have governor races in 2026.
New York does not seem close.
In polls in April and June not funded by the Coalition to Protect Nassau Taxpayers, Incumbent Kathy Hochul led by 18 and 20 points. Furthermore, by last reports, she had $20 million cash on hand for her campaign. Republican Bruce Blakeman, however, has raised $500,000 of matchable funds and is eligible for up to $3.5 million in state funds. DONATE to Kathy Hocul’s campaign if you want.
California does not seem close
In the only poll since the June non-partisan primary, Democrat Xavier Becerra led Republican commentator Steve Hilton by 25 points. During the primary campaign, Xavier Becerra raised $13 Million. Since the primary, he has raised $2.6 million. During the primary campaign, Steve Hilton raised $14 million. Since the primary, he has raised $700,000. DONATE to Xavier Becerra’s campaign if you want.
Texas could be closer
In polls in June that were not funded by the Republicans, Incumbent Greg Abbott has led State Senator Gina Hinojosa by 8,6,7, and 6 points. Abbott is dominating the financial race. His official campaign account has $700,000 cash available. His PAC has $105 million. Hinojosa had $600,000 cash on hand. Don’t be intimidated. DONATE to Gina Hinojosa’s campaign.
Other Gubernatorial campaigns
Alabama. There are no recent polls. Democrat Doug Jones had $1.1 million cash on hand to Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville’s $9.3 million. I have not given up yet. DONATE to Doug Jones. See Len’s Political Note #779
Arizona. Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs has about $7.2 million cash on hand while Congressman Andy Biggs, the probable Republican nominee, had $1.1 million. Polls in April and May show Katie Hobbs leading by 4, 7, and 11 points. Keep her in the lead; DONATE to Katie Hobbs. See Len’s Political Note #712
Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has about $1 million cash on hand. It is hard to know how much Republican businessman Rick Jackson has. He spent $100 million of his own money in the Republican primary and run-off. Three May and June polls had Keisha Lance Bottoms leading by 15, 10, and 5 points. The most recent poll in June, though, had Jackson leading by a point. Take this seriously. DONATE to Keisha Lance Bottoms as soon as you are able. See Len’s Political Note #777
Iowa Democrat State Auditor Rob Sand has about $18 million cash on hand. Businessman Zach Lahn had $600,000 cash on hand, but he spends his own money, having loaned the campaign initially $2.5 million. Polls in June have Sand up by 2, 4, and 9 points. Let’s flip this seat. DONATE to Rob Sand. See Len’s Political Note #746
Maine. There is also a Governor race in Maine. Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles by 11, 13, and 16 points. After the primary, Hannah Pingree had $900,000. Bobby Charles had $300,000. DONATE to Hannah Pingree. Get the vote out in Maine.
Michigan Democrat Jocelyn Benson has $3.5 million cash on hand; Republican John James has $2.5 million May and June polls show Benson leading consistently by almost 10 points. Do not be overconfident: DONATE to Jocelyn Benson. See Len’s Political Note #747
Nebraska Former Democratic State Senator Lynn Walz is trailing by 8 points in an April poll. She is trailing by more in the cash on hand race — $700,000 to Incumbent Jim Pillen’s $9.5 million. DONATE to Lynn Walz if you feel hopeful.
Nevada. Republican incumbent Joe Lombardi has $9 million in cash plus $5.9 million in a PAC. Democratic AG Aaron Ford has $2.7 million combined in cash on hand and his PAC. With a single exception, polls in March had Ford leading by 6. One poll from that month had Lombardi up by 1; a poll in May funded by Democrats had Lombardi up by 3 DONATE to Aaron Ford. It could make a difference See Len’s Political Note #745
Ohio. Republican billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy has $26.8 million cash on hand, largely a product of his $25 million donation to the campaign. Former state medical director Democrat Amy Acton is even in one poll and leads by 1, 3, and 3 points in other polls in June. DONATE to Amy Acton. It could make a difference. See Len’s Political Note #724
Oregon In polls in May and June, Incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek was even with or trailed State Senator Christine Drazan by four points. In the financial race, Tina Kotek has $5.3 million to Drazen’s $1 million. DONATE to Tina Kotek. It could make a difference.
South Carolina. June polls show Republican AG leading Democratic State Senator Jermaine Johnson by between 9 and 42 points. Wilson has $1.8 million cash on hand to Johnson’s $100,000.
Pennsylvania Much like New York and California and Illinois which I am not even mentioning, this race is not close. Incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro has $38 million cash on hand; Republican Stacy Garrity has $1.1 million June polls show Shapiro leading by 17, 22, and 24 points.
