David Jolly Responds to Pro-Donalds ad, Denies Supporting Taxing Social Security

David Jolly Responds to Pro-Donalds ad, Denies Supporting Taxing Social Security

"You see, screaming 'socialism' didn't work for Byron, screaming 'radical' didn't work for him."

Michael Costeines
Michael Costeines
August 24, 2026

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is pushing back on the accusation that he's for taxing social security claimed in an ad released by a pro-Byron Donalds political committee.

In addition, Jolly set the record straight on claims from the ad he wants to tax tips and overtime.

"So let's lay it out there. I don't support taxing social security. And I think its fair to tax wages however they're earned, but would support relief for tips above the standard wage rate," Jolly wrote.

The ad follows another from Friends of Byron Donalds attacking Jolly on transgender issues earlier this month. Jolly encompassed the criticism by accusing Rep. Donalds of trying to divide people and be angry in an effort to boost funding from D.C. and Tallahassee.

"You see, screaming 'socialism' didn't work for Byron, screaming 'radical' didn't work for him, vicious trans ads didn't work, so now he'll be angry about taxes this week," Jolly wrote. "Next week it will be guns, then immigration, then vicious personal attacks on me down the home stretch. It's what we've come to expect from Byron."

Jolly also asserted his opposition to President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping federal tax and spending package signed by the president in July 2025.

"If I had been in Congress, I probably wouldn't have supported the Donalds-Trump tax bill because of the amount of grift, graft and raw corruption in it for the White House, for Byron's donors, and for his own self-enrichment," Jolly shared.

Jolly served in Congress as a Republican in Florida's District 13 from 2014 to 2017. He later became an independent before finally switching his party affiliation to Democrat in April 2025 to run in the gubernatorial election.

Both Jolly and Rep. Donalds are competing for the governor's seat on Nov. 3.

Jolly is looking to become the first Democrat elected Florida governor since 1994.

Responding to the ad, Jolly called it "garbage."

"You see part of this campaign is about returning to something better. First, honesty - addressing garbage like this," Jolly wrote. "And second, pushing back against the raw corruption of politicians who will sell you out for a buck. That's why Byron supported the tax bill. Because his donors and the president told him to, and his family stood to benefit."

Michael Costeines

Michael Costeines

Michael Costeines: Florida Political Correspondent/Capitol Reporter for The Floridian (2024-Present) Over 1000 stories written covering Gov. Gon DeSantis, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Florida GOP, State Legislature, and others Shared by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the White House, Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power, James Uthmeier and others

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