Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is expected to announce former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick on Thursday during a campaign rally at Florida International University, multiple sources told Axios this week.
Graham, who served District 2 from 2015 to 2017, is the daughter of former Florida Democratic governor Bob Graham, who served from 1979 to 1987. Graham also served in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2005.
He passed away in 2024.
Gwen Graham was a candidate in the 2018 Democratic primary for Florida governor before being eliminated. Andrew Gillum, then the party's nominee, lost to current Gov. Ron DeSantis by approximately 32,000 votes.
Jolly's selection of Graham comes days after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropped out of the governor's race after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, leaving Jolly as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
While Graham's choice is likely a strategic one to broaden his appeal with moderate voters, Jolly's climb to become Florida's first Democratic elected governor since Lawton Chiles in 1994 will arguably be challenging. Chiles first was elected in 1991 and served a second term until 1998.
Notably, Buddy MacKay briefly served as governor following Chiles' death until early 1999. Since then, Florida has had four Republican governors, including Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Former Govs. Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, and Rick Scott also led the state. In addition, Florida has supermajorities in the House and Senate, as well as two Republican U.S. Senators in Rick Scott and Ashley Moody.
Most recently, Gov. DeSantis won his re-election bid over Republican-turned Democrat Charlie Crist by over 19 points in 2022. Moreover, DeSantis's victory was the largest margin of victory for a Florida governor since 1982, when then Gov. Bob Graham won by over 29 points against Republican Skip Bafalis.
President Donald Trump also carried the state by over 13 points in the 2024 presidential election. Therefore, a shift blue toward Jolly would be a major development in November's midterm.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, Republicans hold a 1.5 million voter registration edge over Democrats as of April 30.
