David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor, stated this month that he would welcome former Vice President Kamala Harris to campaign with him, despite Harris losing the state by more than 13 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. Jolly, who sought to position himself as a candidate appealing beyond the Democratic base, told CBS Miami’s "Facing South Florida" that he would accept support from "anyone" in the national Democratic Party, including Harris. Jolly additionally stated that Harris "should have beaten Donald Trump" in the 2024 election. The invitation comes as Harris works to rebuild her political profile ahead of the 2026 midterms while considering a potential 2028 presidential run.
What the Left Is Saying
Jolly’s stance reflects a strategic embrace of national Democratic figures to energize the base. In addition to welcoming Harris, Jolly praised Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, noting that her campaign brings "enthusiasm" to Democratic voters. Jolly’s own platform aligns with several progressive priorities, including proposals for a state catastrophic insurance fund to remove natural-disaster risks from the private market, which his campaign argues would reduce property and automobile insurance costs. He has also advocated for licensing, registration, and insurance requirements for firearms, universal background checks, and an assault-weapons ban. Jolly has stated he supports in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students and would not require Florida law enforcement to participate in federal immigration-enforcement agreements. On social issues, Jolly has argued that abortion rights should be protected by law and has expressed support for the transgender community, stating previously, "Jesus is a loving God who would support the trans community and be proud of their bravery and the struggle that they have gone through for recognition and equity."
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative observers note the tension between Jolly’s self-presentation as a moderate and his alignment with figures associated with left-wing positions on guns, healthcare, and abortion. Jolly’s political evolution includes leaving the Republican Party in 2018, spending years as an independent, and later joining the Democratic Party. His remarks on the Second Amendment have drawn scrutiny; in a 2023 MSNBC interview, Jolly said, "You can say I don’t agree with the Second Amendment. Maybe I don’t. I don’t care," and argued that America needed to "crush the culture of guns." Critics have characterized his proposal for a state catastrophic insurance fund as effectively shifting hurricane risk onto the state. Furthermore, Jolly’s position on in-state tuition for undocumented students contrasts with the tighter restrictions on undocumented immigrants and greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities pursued by Florida Republicans in recent years. His healthcare proposals, which call for a significant government role, echo positions taken by Harris during her 2020 campaign, when she co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation and stated, "Let’s eliminate all of that" regarding the role of private insurance in healthcare.
What the Numbers Show
According to the Associated Press, Kamala Harris received 43% of the Florida vote in the 2024 presidential election, while Donald Trump received 56.1%. Jolly faces Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in the gubernatorial election. The Cook Political Report downgraded Donalds’ odds from "Solid R" to "Likely R" last month. Polling data since the August 18 primaries has fluctuated; Democratic-aligned surveys have shown Jolly narrowly ahead or in a tie, while a Stetson University Poll released Wednesday found Donalds leading 51% to 39%. Harris’s reception among Democratic candidates in other states has been mixed; candidates in Iowa, Alaska, and Kansas have publicly declined or distanced themselves from her involvement, while Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) have welcomed her.
The Bottom Line
Jolly’s invitation to Harris signals a shift from a purely moderate appeal toward leveraging national Democratic enthusiasm, despite the historical difficulty for Democrats in Florida. The decision places Jolly in alignment with Harris’s past policy positions on healthcare and gun control, which may energize the base but could complicate his appeal to swing voters in a state where Trump won by a wide margin. The race remains competitive according to some polls, though recent data favors Donalds. Jolly’s platform on immigration, insurance, and social issues presents a distinct contrast with the incumbent Republican approach in Florida. Voters will weigh Jolly’s embrace of national Democratic figures against his stated goal of appealing beyond the party base.