Former Republican congressman David Jolly registered as a Democrat ahead of an anticipated bid for Florida governor.
On Thursday, Jolly launched a political committee expected to boost his anticipated gubernatorial bid.
Jolly, who left the Republican Party to become an independent in 2018, announced on the new Florida 2026 PAC website that he has fully completed his party swap and is now a registered Democrat.
“Known for his fierce independent streak and bipartisan approach, Jolly was first elected in a nationally watched special election in Florida, a Republican winning a Democratic-leaning district,” says the website. “Jolly left the Republican Party shortly after leaving Congress and today is a registered Democrat.”
The news, first reported by Politico, came after Jolly said last month that he was “very seriously considering a run for governor.
“It’s clear to me there is a coalition of Floridians that want change,” he said.
On Thursday, Jolly highlighted his new PAC with a message to voters.
“I launched Florida 2026 — a political committee to engage with Florida’s voters, to promote voter registration and to talk about issues like our state’s affordability crisis, our insurance crisis, to talk about reinvesting in public education and about fixing our broken voucher system,” he said in a video. “We’ll tackle ending gun violence and so many other priorities for Florida voters.”
If he launches a gubernatorial bid, Jolly would be the second Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat in four years to attempt to oust Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). Former Gov. Charlie Crist (D-FL) lost to the incumbent governor by 19 points in 2022.
Jolly represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, he launched a Senate bid before dropping out of the race to run for another House term, which he lost.
Coincidentally, Crist defeated Jolly, ousting him from his House seat during the 2016 elections.
Jolly has been a frequent commentator on MSNBC and a strong critic of President Donald Trump and DeSantis.
Now, Democrats are banking on Jolly to mount a viable challenge to DeSantis.
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Jolly could bring “Florida back into play very quickly,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said.
“Electoral politics today is a game of inches,” he continued. “If you can bring over huge numbers of independents and 5% or 10% of Republicans, that will be breakthrough politics in Florida.”