The campaign of Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has released an online ad criticizing Democratic opponent David Jolly over past comments regarding the Second Amendment (2A). Both Jolly and Donalds are facing off to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee next fall.
“David Jolly wants to abolish the Second Amendment and trample on Floridians’ fundamental rights and freedoms," said Ryan Smith, Chief Strategist for the Byron Donalds Campaign in a release. "Florida voters should tell radical Democrat David Jolly to keep his hands off their guns. As the Trump-endorsed candidate for Florida governor, Byron Donalds will always protect our Second Amendment rights. Byron has never bowed to the gun control lobby, and he never will.”
The video mashup shows Jolly, a former Republican, saying, “The ability of anybody to buy a gun is absolutely foolish, an absolutely foolish thing" during an appearance on MSNBC following a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, in 2023.
“We have to crush the culture of guns in the United States," Jolly added in the mashup.
The line is repeated twice more in the 41-second ad.
"Why do we say that we get instant access to guns simply because the Second Amendment says you have a right to a gun?" Jolly said. "It doesn’t say you have a right to walk into Walmart and buy a gun and buy ammunition."
In addition, the mashup references Jolly saying 2A culture needs to be changed "dramatically" and taken on.
“I think we need dramatic, ambitious gun control laws in the United States and go for the moon shot," Jolly said.
Jolly is also framed in the mashup as saying he might not agree with 2A rights.
Notably, Florida is a permitless carry state, meaning residents can carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Florida is one of 29 states that allow permitless carry, also known as constitutional carry.
According to a recent report, Donalds holds a comfortable lead over Jolly in the race for governor. The election is set for Nov. 3, 2026.
