David Jolly energized a crowd of Florida Democrats as he attacked Republican frontrunner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and insisted Democrats can win the Governor’s race in November.
“I’m telling you, folks, if the election were tonight, we would win this race,” Jolly said at the Florida Democratic Party’s Leadership Blue conference Saturday at Disney World, drawing cheers.
Jolly, a former U.S. Congressman who is running for Governor as a Democrat, criticized Donalds for being beholden to special interests and accused him of supporting data centers and for-profit schools.
“Nothing’s going to change in Tallahassee if the same people who have paid for it for 30 years keep paying it for the next four,” Jolly said. “I’ll give grace to Byron in this moment. … I really mean this, because in some ways he’s just a vessel. He’s just a vessel for the deep pocketed interests that control Tallahassee. Now, here’s where I won’t give grace. He’s chosen to be a part of that marriage. He’s chosen to be bought.”
Jolly and his Lt. Gov. running mate Gwen Graham spoke for about 15 minutes to supporters during the three-day conference.
“I have been a Democrat for my entire life. I think I was a Democrat before I was born,” said Graham, the daughter of the late Democrat Bob Graham, as she introduced her friend to the stage.
A few minutes later, Jolly, a former Republican, quipped, “When mentioned she was a Democrat in the womb — I wasn’t.”
The line drew laughs from the crowd.
Jolly defended his party switch by saying, “I don’t think the problem in politics are people who change. I think the problem in politics are people who won’t change.”
Jolly insisted he found his home in the Democratic Party.
To win in Tallahassee, Jolly said Democrats need the help of independent voters and frustrated Republicans.
“Listen, as Democrats we have to lead this coalition but we’ve got to recognize in this moment the coalition has to be bigger than just our party,” Jolly said, adding “math is math” since the reality is Republicans control the advantage of registered voters in Florida.
