Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power blasted former Republican turned Democrat David Jolly on Friday as he considers running for Florida governor with his new party.
"David Jolly's transition isn't a fresh start - it's a rerun," Power said in a press release. "Like his role model Charlie Crist, Jolly has gone from a failed Republican politician to a sanctimonious and phony 'independent' and has now reached the end of his political journey by switching to the Democrats. Make no mistake. Jolly has no platform, no base, and no chance in Florida."
Jolly represented Florida's 13th Congressional District as a Republican from 2014 until 2017. He later switched his party affiliation to Independent for two years before becoming a registered Democrat on Wednesday.
Since leaving office, Jolly has appeared as a political commentator on CNN and MSNBC. He has also been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump.
The Republican Party of Florida called Jolly "Charlie Crist 2.0," referring to the one-time Republican governor before becoming an Independent and then a Democrat.
They also called him a "washed-up politician" and a "cable news talking head."
"After years of masquerading as a 'principled' NPA while cashing MSNBC checks, David Jolly switched to the Democrat Party and finally confirmed what we've known for years: He's a craven, desperate politician who will say and do anything to stay relevant," the Florida GOP said.
Jolly's potential run comes at an interesting time.
On Thursday, Sen. Jason Pizzo decided to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent. He was the party's leader in the Senate.
Pizzo was also rumored to be a Democratic frontrunner for governor. Instead, he said his party was "dead" in his outgoing speech as Democratic Leader.
Could this open up a lane for Jolly in Florida?
If Pizzo's exit is any indication, the likelihood of Jolly winning is doubtful.
Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated Charlie Crist by nearly 20 points in the 2022 gubernatorial race for a second term. The win also extended Republican control of the governorship since 1999.
