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WATCH • POLITICS

Byron Donalds says I'm selling hope

By David Jolly Published: 2026-08-08 Last updated: 2026-08-08
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Key moments

0:14

"Just the headline alone, I'm like, well, I hope the whole world gets to see that."

0:29

"Byron accused me of selling optimism and unity and hope and change and goodwill and a coalition bigger than a party. God bless the man. He's doing our work for us."

1:01

"If his concern is that we're selling hope and optimism and unity, he must be selling something else."

Context

In a primary where anger and division have become the standard playbook, Byron Donalds accused the Jolly campaign of selling hope, optimism, and unity. David Jolly's response: good.

What's said

The contrast couldn't be clearer. One candidate selling hope for Florida's future. Another choosing anger and scorn. Watch at 0:46 for David's forecast of what the general election will demand from the state.

Transcript

Auto-fetched transcript of the video above.

0:00 Campaigns are busy. We're in the car yesterday morning. I don't have time to catch up on news clips, but I see a headline that says, Donald's accuses Jolly of selling hope. And just the headline alone, I'm like, well, I hope the whole world gets to see that.
0:14 And so, you know, I amplified it on social media, retweet, whatever you do. It was later in the day and I asked a person on our team, I said, Hey, what was that article that I saw? They said, Oh yeah, you got to see it. So I went back and I read it.
0:29 Byron accused me of selling optimism and unity and hope and change and goodwill and a coalition bigger than a party. And I thought, well, God bless the man. He's doing our work for us. If that's, if he understands the heartbeat of our race, sure. That's exactly what we're trying to sell to the people of Florida, because I know that's what we need.
0:46 That's what my family needs. That's what I want in our politics, whether I'm the candidate or not. I think it also forecasts something that's likely going to happen as soon as the primary is over and we're in the general election. They're going to actually hit us with all the angry stuff. Think about it.
1:01 If his concern is that we're selling hope and optimism and unity, he must be selling something else. And so if he's going to sell anger and division and scorn, hyperbole, let him, let him please, Byron, do that. You sell that. I'll keep selling hope.

Related questions

Why does David Jolly frame this as a contrast between hope and anger?

Because Florida families are tired of a politics that divides them. The choice isn't between two policy plans. It's between a campaign that believes people want to be brought together, and one that believes they want to stay angry. See the video at 1:01 for David's full take on that contrast.

What does David mean when he says "he's doing our work for us"?

When an opponent defines your campaign as hope, optimism, and a coalition bigger than a party, they've just told voters exactly what the race is about. No consultant could write a clearer message. Watch at 0:29 to hear David's response in his own words.

Is this video about Byron Donalds or about what Florida needs?

It's about what Florida needs. The question isn't whether one politician accused another of something. The question is whether optimism and unity are what the state's families are asking for. David believes they are, and he's building a campaign on that belief.

More on this topic

OverviewThe 2026 Florida Governor's Race In depthHow to Vote in Florida in 2026 In depthFlorida Governor Polls 2026 In depthWho Is Byron Donalds? In depthDavid Jolly vs. Byron Donalds In depthFlorida Election 2026: Every Date and Deadline In depthWho is running for Florida governor?

Politics should inspire, not divide.

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