Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) posted an attack ad Monday slamming Republican-turned-Democrat David Jolly for saying the party should stick by its views as he mounts a bid for governor.
"Somehow, Democrats have to change their values in '26, or change who they are - that's wrong," Jolly said to Hopium Chronicles in May. "The Democratic Party is absolutely right on the issues."
Jolly's "The Democratic Party is absolutely right on the issues" is then compared to past controversial statements by Democratic leaders. His ideological shift comes after serving as a Florida Republican congressman in District 13 from 2014 to 2017.
Jolly announced his run for governor as a Democrat earlier this month.
Against Jolly's own words, the one-minute ad includes Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer saying, “Our ultimate goal is to help the Dreamers, but get a path to citizenship for all 11 million or however many undocumented.”
The ad next cuts to Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris saying, “Every transgender inmate in the prison system would have access" to gender reassignment surgery.
The video also criticizes a series of controversial polices out of California, including showing a transgender athlete competing in a female high school track and field state championship.
It also slams the Golden State for allowing rioters to wave Mexican flags during protests in Los Angeles and offering health insurance to illegal aliens.
President Donald Trump also makes an appearance, criticizing Democrats for voting "for a 65% tax increase," a reference to a bill passed to make tax cuts permanent in his first term.
The ad ends showing a screaming protester from Trump's first inauguration, along with a final warning for Floridians against Jolly's newfound leftist ideology.
"David Jolly: "Wrong then. Wrong now. Wrong for Florida," the ad concludes.
While the Florida gubernatorial election is not till November 2026, a recent poll showed Donalds with a comfortable lead against Jolly in the race.
