By Noni Haynes
Submitted by Noni
JACKSONVILLE—Since 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led legislature have rolled back many of Florida’s basic civil rights protections. Although minorities have been most directly affected, David Jolly, the Democrat running to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, argues that all Floridians are harmed. “I don’t think the disparate impact of prejudicial and racist policies from the last 100 years has disappeared or that we’ve reached a moment of real equality and equity,” he said. “I think that disparate impact is still very real today.”
Jolly has been outspoken in condemning racist policies while other candidates fail to challenge them. He recently attended a statewide call to action against GOP redistricting, while both the Black Republican and Black Democratic gubernatorial candidates were absent. The gathering brought together 170 elected officials, pastors, union leaders, the NAACP, the Southern Leadership Conference, and activists who committed to Project Urgency, a plan to mobilize Florida voters. Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network and Rev. R. B. Holmes, president of NAN Tallahassee, and AME Bishop AJ Richardson, outlined the effort, which Tallahassee City Commissioner Diane Williams Cox described as “the urgency before the emergency.”
Jolly reiterated his plan to create an Office of Civil Rights within the Governor’s Office to protect voting rights, expand access to health care, and ensure the quality of education required by the Florida Constitution. Because the Department of Education would fall under his authority, he could reverse DeSantis policies, restoring Black history to the public school curriculum, the autonomy of State Universities, and review the Division of Elections administrative procedures to start. “I will tell you this. If we don’t have any problems, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. But I think we need an Office of Civil Rights in the office of the governor to investigate where the problems are and figure out how we move ahead.”
Jolly’s Momentum and Broad Support Show in Polls
Drawing large, diverse crowds at town halls and fundraisers that are all races and party affiliations is the path to victory, according to Jolly. The response, supporters say, is consistently enthusiastic. Credible polls show Jolly’s coalition strategy giving him a 4- to 6-point lead over likely opponent Congressman Byron Donalds, an acerbic Black Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump. Black opposition to Donalds appears strong and consistent, which may explain his absence from Black community events where Jolly is often the only gubernatorial candidate present.
Jolly Stays Connected
In one week, the former congressman traveled across the state—from Miami to Fort Myers, Orlando, and Gainesville—before ending in Jacksonville for Memorial Day tributes. In Gainesville, he attended a fundraiser led by City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut and Diyonne McGraw. Led by RB Holmes, seventy Black pastors have formed Faith in Floridia’s Future in support of Jolly. On Sunday, he attended church services with his wife, Laura, and their children at The Church of Oakland, pastored by Rev. Christopher McKee Jr., and The Day Spring Church, pastored by Rev. Jeffrey Rumlin Jr., who said Donalds was wrong for Florida, adding that Jolly was the way forward.
