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WATCH • LEADERSHIP

Gwen Graham: Like My Father

David Jolly 2026 Campaign Published: 2025-12-18 Last updated: 2025-12-18
Gwen Graham speaking about David Jolly's approach to governing

Key moments

0:24

"I could feel a similar approach to my father with David, that he had the ability to think through these policy issues and the knowledge to know where could you work with the current system to get resources."

0:48

"Every decision that David and I make will be focused first and foremost on, will this make a positive difference in the people's lives?"

1:12

"Being able to get back to working together is another very important part of what David is committed to doing. He and I have great relationships, regardless of party affiliation."

Context

Gwen Graham, former U.S. Representative and daughter of Florida Governor Bob Graham, speaks to what she recognizes in David Jolly's approach to public service. Just like her father, she sees in David a leader who begins with policy command and ends with one question: will this make life better for people?

What's said

Graham describes a governing philosophy grounded in seriousness, policy depth, and the belief that every decision must be measured against its real impact on Floridians. She names the ability to work within systems to deliver tangible results and the commitment to cross-party collaboration as the marks of leadership this state has lost and needs back.

Transcript

Verified transcript of the video above.

0:00 I had never really sat and listened to David speak until not too long ago, I think it was in December of 2025, I was down in Sarasota with him and in St. Petersburg, and I sat in the audience and just listened to him and I was blown away.
0:24 I said, I said publicly, I could feel a similar, a similar approach to my father with David, that he had the ability to think through these policy issues and the knowledge to know where could you work with the current system to get resources or to tweak something here or there that would be positive for the people of Florida.
0:48 And I want to go back to that because I think at the end of today, that's what we've lost sight of too much in this state, is that every decision that we make, every decision that David and I make will be focused first and foremost on, will this make a positive difference in the people's lives?
1:12 And the leaders today, unfortunately, for whatever reason, that is not what's driving them. Being able to get back to working together is another very important part of what David is committed to doing.
1:30 He and I have great relationships, regardless of party affiliation, and those relationships we will utilize to do a good job for the people of Florida.

Related questions

What does David Jolly mean by governing with seriousness?

Governing with seriousness means command of the issues, not just talking points. It means understanding systems well enough to know where small changes can yield real results. It means asking first whether a policy will make a positive difference in people's lives, not whether it scores political points. See the video at 0:24 for Gwen Graham's full description of this approach.

How does David Jolly plan to work across party lines?

David Jolly and Gwen Graham both maintain strong relationships across party lines built on shared commitment to solving problems for Floridians. The approach is to recognize that the question is not where a solution comes from. The question is whether it works. See the video at 1:12 for Graham's explanation of this commitment.

What does Gwen Graham mean when she compares David Jolly to her father?

Gwen Graham's father, Bob Graham, served as Florida's governor and later as a U.S. Senator. He was known for his deep policy knowledge and his commitment to public service grounded in making a real difference. When Graham says David Jolly reminds her of her father, she is naming a shared belief that leadership begins with understanding the issues and ends with delivering results for people. See the video at 0:24 for her full comparison.

More on this topic

Different backgrounds. Different beliefs. Same understanding.

The test of governing is whether it makes life better for the people you serve.