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Byron Donalds' ad · "Disaster" · first seen September 9, 2026 · paid for by Byron Donalds for Governor

The "Disaster" ad, checked claim by claim.

A thousand dollars a year. Higher home insurance. Higher car insurance. Higher renter's insurance. The ad is designed to give you a number to remember and something to be afraid of. So let's check where that number came from, what David actually proposed, and what the record says about every claim in the ad. Then you can decide for yourself.

4 liesChecked October 18, 2026 · 30 seconds · 4 claims
0:00
What the record shows

Byron Donalds for Governor paid to put this in front of you. Press play. Every claim gets checked while it talks.

That was the ad. This is the record, with every source.

David's own pages on thisDavid Jolly's Plan to Cut Florida Homeowners Insurance by 60 to 70 PercentDoes David Jolly want a $1,000 hurricane tax?Will David Jolly's catastrophe fund raise costs for Floridians?
Read the record

The record, claim by claim

The ad's words, the verdict, and what the record shows under each. The numbers point to the sources at the end of the page.

Claim 1 of 4 · 0:00 to 0:11
A lie

How much will David Jolly's hurricane tax cost Florida?

On screen: David Jolly's Hurricane Tax $1,000 per Family FSU HERBERT WERTHEIM COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, EXPANDED WINDSTORM COVERAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY, 8/26/26 WCWF, THIS WEEK IN JACKSONVILLE, 10/12/25

David Jolly has never proposed a $1,000 hurricane tax on Florida families. The study the ad cites never looked at his plan.

David Jolly has never proposed a $1,000 hurricane tax on Florida families.[1][2] The study the ad cites never looked at his plan.[1][3]

1Florida Phoenix, 20262PolitiFact, 20263Florida ExpertNet (the FSU study listing), 2026
The full answer: David Jolly's Plan to Cut Florida Homeowners Insurance by 60 to 70 Percent
Claim 2 of 4 · 0:11 to 0:16
A lie

According to a new study, $1,000 per Florida family every single year.

On screen: David Jolly's Hurricane Tax will hit everyone. FSU WINDSTORM COVERAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY, 8/26/26 FLORIDA POLITICS, 9/8/26

The study this is referring to is of a 2024 House proposal, not Jolly's plan, and describes a limited-time emergency fee only if a catastrophic storm wiped out Citizens' reserves.

The study this is referring to is of a 2024 House proposal, not Jolly's plan,[2][4] and describes a limited-time emergency fee only if a catastrophic storm wiped out Citizens' reserves.[2][5]

2PolitiFact, 20264Florida Phoenix, 20265Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, 2026
The full answer: Does David Jolly want a $1,000 hurricane tax?
Claim 3 of 4 · 0:16 to 0:18
A lie

Higher home insurance,

On screen: David Jolly's Hurricane Tax HIGHER HOME INSURANCE FSU WINDSTORM COVERAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY, 8/26/26 FLORIDA POLITICS, 9/8/26

Jolly's plan takes hurricane risk out of private policies and puts it in a state catastrophe fund; his campaign says that cuts the average homeowner's bill by 60 to 70 percent.

Jolly's plan takes hurricane risk out of private policies and puts it in a state catastrophe fund;[6][2] his campaign says that cuts the average homeowner's bill by 60 to 70 percent.[6][1]

6David Jolly for Governor, Affordability1Florida Phoenix, 20262PolitiFact, 2026
The full answer: Will David Jolly's catastrophe fund raise costs for Floridians?
Claim 4 of 4 · 0:21 to 0:26
A lie

A giant bailout for big insurance. A giant rip-off for you.

On screen: David Jolly's Hurricane Tax A GIANT BAILOUT FOR BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES FLORIDA POLITICS, 9/8/26

Florida's existing hurricane fund pays insurance companies, not homeowners: it reimburses insurers for part of their storm losses. Jolly's fund is built to bring homeowners' premiums down instead.

Florida's existing hurricane fund pays insurance companies, not homeowners: it reimburses insurers for part of their storm losses.[7][8] Jolly's fund is built to bring homeowners' premiums down instead.[6]

7Florida State Board of Administration, 20266David Jolly for Governor, Affordability8WGCU / News Service of Florida, 2025
The full answer: David Jolly's Plan to Cut Florida Homeowners Insurance by 60 to 70 Percent
Fear is easy. The truth takes a little longer.

That's why the sources are here. Read them. Check us. Then make up your own mind.

Every ad, checked →

Explore this issue

OverviewThe truth about Byron Donalds' ads In depthThe "More For It" ad, checked claim by claim. In depthByron keeps saying it. David keeps answering it. In depthThe "Florida Paid the Price" ad, checked claim by claim. OverviewDavid Jolly's Plan to Cut Florida Homeowners Insurance by 60 to 70 Percent In depthWill David Jolly's catastrophe fund raise costs for Floridians? In depthDoes David Jolly want a $1,000 hurricane tax?

Sources

  1. Florida Phoenix, https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/14/republicans-for-jolly-effort-launches-in-st-petersburg/ · 2026-09-14
  2. PolitiFact, https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/sep/21/jolly-donalds-hurricane-insurance-1000-florida/ · 2026-09-21
  3. Florida ExpertNet (the FSU study listing), https://expertnet.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=projects.details&ID=302596 · 2026-09-15
  4. Florida Phoenix, https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/16/jolly-and-donalds-clash-on-property-insurance-proposals/ · 2026-09-16
  5. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, https://www.citizensfla.com/assessments · 2026-09-15
  6. David Jolly for Governor, Affordability, https://davidjolly.com/issues/affordability/
  7. Florida State Board of Administration, https://www.sbafla.com/fhcf/AbouttheFHCF.aspx · 2026-09-15
  8. WGCU / News Service of Florida, https://www.wgcu.org/section/hurricanerecovery/2025-05-12/floridas-cat-fund-reinsurance-program-estimate-tops-6-7-billion · 2025-05-12

Last reviewed October 18, 2026.