Bill Clinton Campaigns for David Jolly in Florida Ahead of Election Day

Former President Bill Clinton is participating in a campaign event for Florida gubernatorial nominee David Jolly, scheduled for two weeks before Election Day. Clinton will join Jolly at an interfaith event in Hollywood on Tuesday, October 20, marking his first public campaign appearance for the 2026 midterms, according to Jolly's campaign. Jolly, a former Republican congressman who secured the Democratic nomination in August, is competing against Republican Rep. Byron Donalds to succeed outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. Democrats have historically faced challenges in winning the governorship in Florida, with Lawton Chiles being the last Democrat elected governor in 1994. Jolly aims to change this on November 3, although recent polls present varying forecasts for his chances against Donalds. A Stetson University poll released on Tuesday indicates Donalds leading Jolly by 11 points, 52% to 41%, among modeled likely voters. Other polls show a tighter race, with a St. Pete Polls survey from October 5–7 showing both candidates at 45% each, while a YouGov survey released last week has Donalds ahead 47% to 45%. Clinton's visit coincides with the start of early voting in parts of Florida, providing Jolly with a prominent Democratic surrogate during the campaign's final phase. The governor's race is attracting attention beyond Florida, as the Cook Political Report recently shifted the contest from 'Likely Republican' to 'Lean Republican,' indicating a more competitive race despite Donalds' significant financial advantage over Jolly. Clinton's involvement in Florida Democrats' efforts extends beyond the gubernatorial race; he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently headlined a New York fundraiser for Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who is running for reelection in a newly drawn district considered a toss-up following a congressional remapping backed by DeSantis. Clinton has a history of making late campaign appearances in previous elections, including in the 2022 midterms and taking on a larger role in 2024, where he made numerous campaign stops across battleground states for then-Vice President Kamala Harris and supported other candidates.