‘They’re Playing Checkers. I’m Playing Chess’: David Jolly Talks 2026 Governor’s Race

TALLAHASSEE—David Jolly, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, believes that the wealthy independents eyeing Florida’s top job won’t jump into the 2026 race—as long as he plays his cards right.

And the Republicans comparing him to an off-brand Charlie Crist?

“They’re playing checkers. I’m playing chess," said Jolly.

In an exclusive sit-down interview with The Floridian, the 52-year-old former GOP congressman was confident that his moderate stance and hyper-focus on Florida's “generational” affordability crisis would help him win over voters in a state he acknowledges to be the “home of MAGA.”

“The independent voters are just as available to us as Democrats as they are to an independent candidate,” Jolly said. “My job as the Democratic nominee is to build a coalition that includes independents.”

14 months out from the primary, Jolly is the only high-profile Democrat in the race. His likely Republican opponent is Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds.

Complicating the situation, former state Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, recently quit the party and registered with no party affiliation to run as an independent. Democratic mega-donor John Morgan has also floated the idea of a third-party bid.

But Jolly isn’t worried.

“If I [attract independent voters], then Jason Pizzo has no reason to run, because that space will be represented," he said. “If I build a strong enough coalition, John Morgan will have no reason to consider a run.”

On Evan Power, GOP Criticism, Party Switching:

GOP Chair Evan Power has led the charge on branding Jolly a “Temu” Charlie Crist, the former Florida Governor who switched political parties and lost multiple races. Temu is a Chinese site known for cheap imitations.

“I don’t respond to Evan Power. That’s not gonna be this campaign,” Jolly said. “The Republicans will want to make this a hyper-partisan race. My decision is that this will be about attacking the affordability crisis for everybody in Florida and providing solutions where Tallahassee leaders have failed." 

Jolly also fired back at criticism over his party-switching (he became an independent in 2018 and a Democrat earlier this year).

“One of the reasons I don’t play ball with the miscreants in Tallahassee Republican politics hitting me with criticisms, is because they’re playing checkers. I’m playing chess,” he said. “My job is to tell my story, and it includes change. 

“You know who’s changed the most? Republicans. They just won’t admit it. The Republican Party I belonged to said, ‘We’re gonna stay out of your bedroom and we’re gonna be about fiscal discipline.’ Now they’re blowing up the debt, and they want politicians in the doctor’s office and the classrooms and in your bedrooms,” Jolly continued.

“We’re gonna end the culture wars on day one. We’re done with culture wars in the state of Florida if I get to the governor’s mansion."

On Property Tax, Insurance:

Property taxes and property insurance are sky high in Florida—an issue central to Jolly's campaign. While he blames Republicans for the crisis, Jolly says he has a solution.

“I don’t think Republican math ever works out in Tallahassee,” he said, proposing property tax relief for first-time homebuyers. 

He also called for a state catastrophe fund to drive down private insurance premiums, removing hurricane coverage from the private market.

"Private market insurance rates would drop by 50% to 60%, and every major carrier in the country would be back,” Jolly said, accusing Republicans of helping enrich insurance CEOs as Floridians get priced out of their homes.

On Illegal Immigration, Hope Florida:

Amid nationwide protests against mass ICE deportations, Jolly said that the sweeping immigration crackdown is an attempt to target immigrant communities—not deter illegal immigration.

“I think we need a pathway to work for those who have done nothing other than contribute to our economy and to our culture. We should welcome them,” he said. “That was a Republican principle 10 years ago. That was a Marco Rubio-led principle 10 years ago.”

He then took a shot at Hope Florida, the charity founded by First Lady Casey DeSantis, for reportedly redirecting $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to anti-marijuana efforts.

“We can be a state that is tough on crime, whether you were born here or immigrated here, or stole $10 million from the Medicaid program,” Jolly said.  “We can be a state that is tough on crime, but we can also be a state that lifts up communities that came here for no other reason than to create opportunities.”

'The Home of MAGA'

Republicans have controlled the governor’s mansion since Jeb Bush won the role in 1999, while a statewide Democrat hasn’t been elected since 2018. Republicans have since amassed over 1.2 million more registered voters than Democrats, and conquered former blue strongholds like Miami-Dade County.

Still, Jolly believes his campaign could be a turning point.

“We’re gonna get outspent 2-to-1, 3-to-1, that’s fine. Those are numbers we won’t be able to compete with. This is the home of MAGA—I get it. The president lives here, this is the heart of the DeSantis movement as well. But we’re in the midst of an affordability crisis in an election that’s bringing generational change, and we’re gonna be the voice of that change,” Jolly said.