I saw the future of the Florida Democratic Party in Coral Gables Sunday night and news flash: It’s alive and kicking. That’s despite state Sen. Jason Pizzo’s recent political obituary for the party, which he just left.
The future is David Jolly, a former Republican congressman–turned–independent–turned–Democrat, who says he’s contemplating a run for governor in 2026.
Fact is, he’s well past the contemplating stage. He’s holding well-attended town halls around the state. More than 300 people showed up on a holiday weekend night in Coral Gables. Jolly, who’s familiar to many from regular appearances on MSNBC, is already running hard — and connecting with dispirited voters, primarily Democrats.
He’s got a story to tell, and he tells it well. His main campaign theme is the affordability crisis. He talks about tackling the painfully high cost of living, the shortage of workforce housing and skyrocketing insurance rates. He says school vouchers should be means-tested, not handed out to parents who can already afford private school tuition.
A 52-year-old lawyer, Jolly told the audience at the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ that he’s undergone an “evolution” in his political thinking over the past decade. He was often out of step with fellow Republicans during his time in Congress from 2014 to 2017, representing a Tampa-area district.
He supported marriage equality and a pro-LGBTQ amendment to a defense spending bill. He was the only Republican in the House to vote against an investigation of Planned Parenthood. On the House floor in 2016, he called for Trump to resign over the Muslim travel ban.
Perhaps Jolly’s biggest shift has been on abortion. He grew up in Southwest Miami-Dade, where his father was a Baptist pastor and he was taught that abortion is a sin. He says life experience changed his mind.
The shift was not for political expediency, but it will certainly help him in a state where 57% of voters supported a constitutional amendment last year granting women the right to choose. “Government should get out of our bedrooms and doctors’ offices,” Jolly told the audience, drawing cheers.
He’s also moved center-left on gun control. He opposes revoking the state’s post-Parkland ban on selling guns to anyone under 21. He supports comprehensive background checks on all gun sales. “We need to respect law-abiding gun owners,” he said, “and get guns out of the hands of criminals and gang-bangers.”
Some other salient points that drew applause at the town hall: Jolly said the Legislature should stop overriding local government decisions, ordinances and voter referendums. “If the people of Key West vote to ban large cruise ships from docking, they should have that right.”
He also said Florida high school graduates who qualify for state universities should be given admission priority over out-of-state applicants. He argued that state colleges and universities shouldn’t serve as landing spots for retiring politicians — a recurring practice under Gov. Ron DeSantis.
There were a couple of soft spots in Jolly’s presentation. His position on immigration needs more clarity, and he was at a loss when asked how he would appeal to Hispanic voters. “I’ll need your help,” he said. And how.
But for a very early campaign stop — we’re still 17 months from Election Day —Jolly made an impressive showing. Sources say he’s already lined up some deep-pocketed donors and might get help from the Democratic National Committee. He admitted his biggest threat could be a wealthy independent candidate entering the race.
That might be Pizzo, a smart and very rich state senator from Sunny Isles Beach. I like and respect Pizzo, whom I consider a friend. But spending millions of dollars in a quixotic quest for governor is a dead end — and could siphon off enough votes to ensure victory for Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate endorsed by Donald Trump.
But if the economy tanks in the next year and if Jolly runs a campaign that truly meets Floridians “where they’re at,” as he promises, he might be the long-awaited Democrat who turns Florida back from red to purple.
As we say in Miami, nos vemos.
Michael Putney is a retired former political reporter at WPLG-Channel 10.