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WATCH • FROM THE TRAIL

A New Coalition

By David Jolly Published: 2025-01-13 Last updated: 2025-01-13
A New Coalition

Key moments

0:48

"This is a moment where the entire state of Florida can stand up and do something we haven't seen in American politics in a long time."

2:00

"In a state where Democrats are outnumbered by 1.4 million people, the Democratic Party would have led a new political coalition bigger than our party."

2:44

"If we can deliver on that, we will have redefined American politics. I believe we've got a shot to change the world."

Context

David Jolly launches a weekly series documenting the work of building a coalition in Florida. The first installment lays out the day-to-day effort and the historic opportunity ahead if voters choose a politics bigger than party.

What's said

The candidate describes the balance between listening to communities, building the coalition, and staying present for family. The argument: Florida can reset American politics by proving a new coalition works.

Transcript

Verified transcript of the video above.

0:00 An average day on the trail. As I say, we try to leave it all on the field. We try to use every hour we can.
0:09 So what do we do? We try to do local community work, hear the voices, hear the stories. We try to do a coalition building event. Whether it's a town hall, we try to sit with local leaders or civic leaders. But look, a real day on the campaign is also me hustling to get home. You know, fighting the schedule to try to get home, to see my kids before they fall asleep, to be there when they wake up.
0:34 I've asked for the opportunity to be the candidate. I've accepted my role as a candidate. I accept the responsibility of trying to marshal together this coalition. But this is a moment where the entire state of Florida can stand up and do something we haven't seen in American politics in a long time. That gets me excited.
0:58 Right. Since the emergence of Donald Trump in 2015, when he came down the escalator, he has disrupted the entire American experiment over the last ten years. If in the state of Florida, Florida's voters are the ones who say not anymore. Yes, for people who are concerned about the future of the country, we will have provided a reset, but we will have also been given an opportunity.
1:26 And I don't think much past Election Day. I don't I'm not wired like that. But I sometimes think about what happens if we are given that opportunity. All of us, not me. We. If we've been given the opportunity in November to say right. In a state where Democrats are outnumbered by 1.4 million people, that means the Democratic Party would have led a new political coalition bigger than our party.
2:00 If we have been given that platform in November, then what we do with it might become the greatest task of our generation. Because if we can deliver on that, we will have redefined American politics. I believe we've got a shot to change the world.

Related questions

What does David Jolly mean by a coalition bigger than party?

A coalition that includes Democrats, independents, and Republicans who believe governing should serve people, not party loyalty. The campaign argues that Florida's path forward requires putting the state's interests above partisan scorecards. See the video at 2:00 for the full framing.

Why does the campaign believe Florida can reset American politics?

Florida is a state where Democrats are outnumbered by 1.4 million voters. If a new coalition wins here, it proves that a politics bigger than left versus right can work in a place where the math says it shouldn't. That becomes a model for the rest of the country. The candidate lays this out starting at 1:34 in the video.

What is the day-to-day work of building this coalition?

Local community listening, town halls, and meetings with civic leaders. The work is about hearing people's stories and organizing around shared values, not extracting votes. The candidate describes an average day starting at 0:00 in the video.

How does the campaign balance the trail with family life?

The candidate speaks openly about the tension between the demands of a statewide race and being present for his kids. The campaign's position is that if you can't show up for your own family, the public has no reason to believe you'll show up for theirs. See 0:22 in the video for his take on fighting the schedule to get home.

More on this topic

A shot to change the world

Have a question for David? Visit the Town Hall and ask.