By Noni Haynes
TALLAHASSEE — David Jolly brought his gubernatorial campaign to the Florida panhandle for the fourth time, hitting Pensacola, Milton, Panama City, and Tallahassee. Outside the Capitol City, Democrats brand the region “No Man’s Land” for its conservative leaning, but Jolly says affordability is just as important there as it is anywhere. So is diversity. Equity is also on his agenda, where everyone is welcomed and uplifted.” Why has equity become an extreme idea?” he asked.
Speaking at Indivisible and the Capital Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee, he spelled out his unifying strategy. Top of the list is the insurance crisis that has spiraled out of control for years under Governor Ron DeSantis. A recent Newsweek article describes the plan, saying, “The move could help stabilize the shaky Florida home insurance market, which has recently recovered from years of skyrocketing premiums amid an exodus of private carriers.” The state would cover catastrophic storm losses that would reduce premiums by 60%.
The former St. Petersburg congressman and MSNBC political analyst has detailed solutions to expand Medicaid, allowing teachers to focus on teaching by taking the politics out of the classroom. The DeSantis administration sanitized Black history in Florida public schools’ curriculum, causing outrage in the Black community. Jolly pledged to restore the truth about Black history and the independence of the state university system that he says has been the victim of political interference.
Those are a few of the fixes Jolly has promised. High on the list is ending the culture wars that he says do nothing to improve the quality of life for Floridians.
“The Free State of Florida is a lie. People feel they are treated differently because of the color of their skin, and that’s wrong. The economy should work for everyone,” Jolly told the Indivisible audience. Tallahassee State College Student Sofia Palomo of Tampa was impressed with Jolly’s command of the issues and solutions. “He has a strong record. It is important to get voters behind you. He’s a solid candidate. And I like that he was a former Republican. It’s okay for you to change your mind. I’m extremely impressed. I‘m going to spread the word to my friends.”
The struggle to break through to Gen Z voters has been a difficult task during an off-presidential election year. David Jolly says young voters are essential to the future of Florida, adding, “This race is about Florida. Pulling together a coalition that believes in Florida is the way to win.”