Friends of Byron Donalds, a political committee supporting Rep. Donalds' gubernatorial campaign released an ad calling Democratic opponent David Jolly "radically liberal, radically wrong" on transgender issues over the weekend.
The 30-second ad, titled "Agenda," highlights Jolly's past statements supporting gender reassignment surgery on children. Jolly is notably a former Republican, having just become a registered Democrat in April 2025.
"We embraced it... the medical pathways, the gender affirming care," Jolly said from the ad.
The ad also attacks Jolly's support of men in women's sports.
"It can be supportive of them to allow them to play in youth sports," Jolly said.
Moreover, the ad shows former University of Pennsylvania Swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, holding a first-place trophy after winning the 500 women's freestyle over two biological women, including second-place finisher Emma Weyant from Sarasota, at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta back in 2022.
Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete in the event while declaring Weyant the rightful winner through a proclamation soon after. DeSantis also signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act requiring athletes to participate on sports teams that align with their biological sex listed on their birth certificate in June 2021.
Rep. Donalds is in line with the governor's agenda.
"The only way you defeat crazy, is you stand up to it," Donalds said in the ad during a past campaign stop.
The ad importantly proceeds Rep. Donalds' potential victory in the Republican primary against Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and businessman James Fishback on Aug. 18.
Jolly is the presumptive Democratic nominee after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspended his campaign in June after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
But clearly Rep. Donalds is looking ahead at the general election, even challenging Jolly to three debates last month.
The general election is Nov. 3.
