A former Republican congressman turned Democrat officially launched his candidacy Thursday morning to become the next governor of Florida.

If nominated, Jolly will have a long road to the Governor’s mansion. Republicans have more than 1 million more registered voters than Democrats, and that gap continues to grow.

David Jolly, best known for spending one term in Congress as a Republican, became the first Democrat to announce a bid for Florida governor ahead of the 2026 elections. An avid critic of President Donald Trump,

David Jolly argued that there was an opportunity for Democrats to capitalize on voter displeasure with the high cost of living and with Republican policies.

Former Republican Florida Rep. David Jolly, a staunch critic of President Donald Trump, announced Thursday that he is jumping into the state’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democrat.

A second reading on the proposed ordinance for control of GRU is scheduled for a special meeting on June 12 at 1 p.m.