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WATCH • CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Who Really Runs Tallahassee? Follow the Money.

By David Jolly Published: 2026-07-20 Last updated: 2026-07-20
David Jolly speaking at campaign event about special interests in Tallahassee

Key moments

0:22

"The same people who have controlled Tallahassee for 30 years are controlling Byron Donalds. That's why."

0:44

"The same for-profit school industry that is attacking and abandoning public education now controls Byron Donalds."

1:41

"Gwen Graham and David Jolly are not bought. Byron's going to fight for the data centers. We're going to fight for everybody in this room."

Context

For thirty years, the same powerful interests have shaped policy in Tallahassee. This is David Jolly making the case that the 2026 governor's race is about more than candidates.

What's said

David Jolly argues that the question is not just about values, but about who gets to decide how those values become law. See the video at 1:01 for his full framing of what's at stake.

Transcript

Auto-fetched transcript from YouTube.

0:00 I will tell you this, if our Republican friends in Tallahassee understood those values and practiced those values, we would not be at a point of economic crisis in this state. We would not be as divided as ever before. My bigger concern is who's allied with them to continue to control Tallahassee. Folks, there's a reason that Byron Donalds has gotten $100 million.
0:22 It's not charity. It's not charity. It's because the same people who have controlled Tallahassee for 30 years are controlling Byron Donalds. That's why. That's why. The same people that got us the highest utility rate increase in American history now control Byron Donalds.
0:44 The same for-profit school industry that is attacking and abandoning public education now controls Byron Donalds. The data centers now control Byron Donalds.
1:01 The insurance companies, the gamblers, whatever it might be, folks, nothing's going to change in Tallahassee if the same people who have paid for it for 30 years keep paying it for the next four. So, yes, there's going to be a contrast in this race over values, but more importantly, who gets to decide how we enact legislation that reflects those values?
1:20 I'll give grace to Byron in this moment. I promise you, I mean this. I really mean this. Because in some ways, he's just a vessel. He's just a vessel for the deep-pocketed interests that control Tallahassee. Now here's where I won't give grace. He's chosen to be a part of that marriage.
1:41 He's chosen to be bought. Gwen Graham and David Jolly are not bought. Byron's going to fight for the data centers. Byron's going to fight for the for-profit schools.
1:58 Byron's going to fight for the utilities, for the gambling interests of the states, and for the insurance companies that keep jacking up rates on us. Gwen Graham and I are going to fight for everybody in this room and everybody across the state of Florida.

Related questions

Who funds the major political campaigns in Florida?

Across Florida, utility companies, insurance firms, real estate developers, and for-profit education interests make up some of the largest donor blocs in state races. These industries often have direct stakes in legislation that affects rates, zoning, insurance policy, and school funding. See the video at 0:44 for the candidate's full breakdown of which industries have shaped recent Tallahassee policy.

Why does campaign finance matter to everyday Floridians?

When powerful interests bankroll campaigns, the policies that follow often benefit those donors. Higher utility bills, insurance premiums that climb faster than wages, and education systems stripped of public funding are not accidents. They are outcomes tied to who has a voice in Tallahassee. See the video at 1:01 for the candidate's argument about who gets to decide what becomes law.

Can a governor change the influence of special interests?

A governor who refuses money from the industries trying to control policy changes the leverage those industries hold. It means vetoes matter. Appointments matter. Budget priorities matter. The question is not whether a candidate has perfect power, but whether the candidate is willing to say no to the pressure the current system runs on. See the video at 1:41 for the candidate's position on who he and Gwen Graham will fight for.

More on this topic

OverviewCampaign Finance and Ethics Reform In depthTransparency Matters: What I Know About the Govoni Case, and Why I Won't Hide From It

Hard work should be enough.

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