Former Florida Congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly reaffirmed his stance on Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (DWS) controversial re-election campaign after a Miami-Dade attorney questioned him on social media in a post commemorating the Juneteenth holiday.
Attorney Calls Jolly "Feckless"
In an effort to politicize the commemoration of Juneteenth – the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, which takes place annually on June 19 – Miami-Dade County attorney, Stephen Hunter Johnson, called out Jolly within the candidate’s commemoration post for allegedly failing to express “opposition” to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s reelection campaign in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
Johnson alleged that Jolly had promised to do so during a previous conversation.
The attorney then retracted his statement, stating that if Jolly had made a public statement on the matter, then “it would have been as feckless as Nikki Fried’s late statement."
“Because now, that's what you are. Not an ally to Black Floridians. Just a self-interested liar,” Johnson concluded.
Nikki Fried's Juneteenth Post
Johnson’s comparisons of Jolly to Nikki Fried come from the former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture’s repost of a Florida Democratic Party’s post also commemorating the holiday.
Johnson appears to consider Fried’s minute acknowledgement as “feckless,” alluding to the idea that she’s appearing to be an ally to Black Floridians solely for self-interest.
Jolly Affirms His Stance Against DWS's Decision
“Stephen, I don't do feckless. I've shared many times that I think she unfortunately made the wrong decision, and I wish she hadn't,” Jolly replied.
The former Congressman referenced his previous reelection campaign loss in FL CD 2016, in which he remained in despite the state’s updated congressional map enacted in January of that year.
“The original candidates in the race also know where I am on this [because] we've all discussed it, Jolly said. “But everyone's made their decisions and voters will now sort it out.”
“I hope we can push forward together. Because we need to be together. That's my commitment to you and all involved,” Jolly asserted.
DWS' Controversial "Black Erasure" Reelection Effort
Following the state of Florida’s approved congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections, Rep. Wasserman Schultz made the controversial decision of switching her reelection campaign from FL CD 25 to FL CD 20.
The Congresswoman’s decision has drawn a large stream of criticism by Black Democratic lawmakers, including former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D), who claimed that Schultz’s decision is contributing “to the erasure” of the history of the Black community.
FL State Senator Rosalind Osgood also commented on the decision, affirming that the district deserves someone who shares the constituency’s lived experience.
