### Former Republican Congressman David Jolly Announces Gubernatorial Bid in Florida as a Democrat

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — David Jolly, once a Republican congressman and an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, has formally declared his candidacy for governor of Florida, this time running as a Democrat. Jolly's announcement adds him to the list of political figures aiming to reclaim control of what has traditionally been a key swing state. Recently, Florida has seen a significant shift to the right.

Jolly's political transformation reflects his ongoing evolution since his election to Congress in a 2014 special election for the Tampa Bay area. He secured a full term subsequently but left the Republican Party in 2018, first becoming an independent and then registering as a Democrat. Jolly has since emerged as a notable anti-Trump commentator on MSNBC.

As current Republican Governor Ron DeSantis reaches his term limit and cannot run for reelection in 2026, Jolly believes there is an opportunity for change. He argues that issues like affordability, the funding of public schools, and the need for stronger campaign finance and ethics laws will resonate with Florida voters. Jolly predicts that the upcoming elections will signal a nationwide shift in the political landscape.

Jolly criticizes what he describes as the divisive nature of current Republican leadership in Florida, particularly their involvement in cultural and social issues. He stated, "I think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us. I think we should get politicians out of the classrooms and out of the doctor's offices."

Jolly's campaign will likely draw comparisons to the 2022 gubernatorial bid of Charlie Crist, another former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party and lost to DeSantis by a significant margin. Crist previously unseated Jolly from their shared congressional district in 2016. Despite the steep challenge ahead, Jolly aligns himself with what he sees as the core values of the Democratic Party, asserting that government should help people, ensure economic fairness, and celebrate immigrants.

On the issue of immigration, Jolly diverges sharply from his former party. He criticizes Florida lawmakers for equating immigration with crime, labeling such approaches as both wrong and immoral. He stressed that crime should be tackled universally, regardless of an individual's origin.

The challenges facing Jolly and the Florida Democratic Party are substantial. The party currently holds no statewide offices, and there are 1.2 million more registered Republicans than Democrats in the state. The GOP has also made significant gains in historically Democratic areas like Miami-Dade County.

The Democratic Party's struggles in Florida were highlighted on the very day Jolly announced his gubernatorial ambitions when the top Democrat in the Florida Senate, Jason Pizzo, left the party, proclaiming, "the Democratic Party in Florida is dead." Pizzo, a former prosecutor, declared he would run for governor as an independent candidate.

On the Republican front, Jolly will face competition from Trump-backed Representative Byron Donalds, with other potential GOP candidates including former Rep. Matt Gaetz and Casey DeSantis.