By Gina Reynolds
ORLANDO — After two Tampa Bay area events, David Jolly and his wife, Laura, headed to Orlando to join 800 guests at the annual Men of Honor Gala. The soiree pays tribute to men who have made significant contributions to their communities.
The Jolly campaign for governor is different in many ways. If he can get there, he will be there. In four months, he has attended 80 events statewide, taking the names and numbers of Floridians who want someone to hear their concerns.
This hands-on voter engagement strategy appears to be effective, garnering unusually high approval ratings in a short period. According to the conservative James Madison Institute, Jolly is only four percentage points away from tying Republican firebrand Congressman Byron Donalds.
Other polls show even smaller margins. That’s substantial, according to political observers. They also say Jolly will only continue to gain ground on the Trump acolyte. And true to his name, Jolly enjoys listening to people and offering solutions that have nothing to do with culture wars or the color of your skin. “We need to return Florida to a place where everyone is welcome and valued,” he says.
Jolly’s diverse voter appeal would break the GOP stranglehold on the state. That has attracted national attention, renewing hopes of the Sunshine State’s return to swing state status. “Florida voters are screaming for change. I believe in Florida, and building a coalition is the way to win,” Jolly says. Gainesville businesswoman Dyonne McGraw agrees. “He’s approachable and willing to fight for change.”
McGraw was the first of many Florida school board members to be removed from office for questionable reasons by Governor Ron DeSantis. The purge began in 2021, sparking outrage statewide. The Governor has also launched similar takeovers in the State University System, causing unprecedented resistance, particularly at Florida A&M University.