David Jolly, a former Republican congressman, won the Democratic primary for governor of Florida on August 18, 2026. He will replace outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, who is unable to run for a third term due to term limits. Jolly's victory positions him as a moderate Democrat aiming to appeal to voters in a predominantly Republican state by addressing frustrations with the Trump administration.
Jolly previously represented Florida's 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017. After losing a general election to Democrat Charlie Crist, he began to express his disagreements with the Republican Party and Donald Trump. In a 2018 opinion piece, Jolly stated that one cannot be both a Republican and a 'never-Trump' supporter. He has since distanced himself from the Republican Party, registering as an independent before running as a Democrat.
In his campaign, Jolly has focused on issues such as insurance affordability, public education, and campaign finance reform, while also supporting access to abortion. He has raised approximately $6.4 million for his campaign. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Florida has not elected a Democrat for governor since Lawton Chiles in 1994.