Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly pushed back on assertions that's he's far left from Congressman and Republican challenger Byron Donalds (R-FL) while speaking on CUOMO with host Chris Cuomo on NewsNation this week.
"He's hit me with $5 million in trans ads. He's making the ideological stuff. He's calling me a radical," Jolly said. "Chris, I'm not even cool, much less a radical. He's called me a socialist. I denounce socialism. I'm a capitalist. He's trying all of that."
In a bit of foreshadowing, Rep. Donalds shared an ad pinning Jolly as far left this week.
Jolly called the claim a break in "trust" tactic by Rep. Donalds.
"In a moment that I think is like a post-Watergate 1974 moment, where enough voters, regardless of voter registration, are saying burn the ships we're going to go in a new direction, what's happening is we're believing in each other again," Jolly said. "We're trusting each other. We're believing in something better."
Further pushing against him being far left, Jolly contrasted his positions to that of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville). Nixon, who won her Democratic primary in a stunning upset over challenger Alexander Vindman, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
"I condemn the DSA. I don't support socialism," Jolly said. "I'm a capitalist that believes in in the private economy."
While distancing himself from her positions, Jolly praised Nixon for campaigning across the state. He also credited both of their campaigns to that of former Florida politician Lawton Chiles, who famously trekked over 1,000 miles during his 1970 U.S. Senate campaign, earning him the nickname "Walkin' Lawton."
"I've run my campaign, she's run hers. But every time I'd be in a community of five, 10, 15 people, Angie would be there the same day, or the next day, or the day before," Jolly said. "I focused my campaign on housing, healthcare, and education. Every candidate talks about the affordability crisis."
Jolly is looking to become Florida's first Democratic elected governor since Lawton Chiles in 1994.
