Jolly Names Gwen Graham as Running Mate for Florida Governor Race
Former GOP congressman turned Democrat David Jolly selected former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate in Florida’s gubernatorial race.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — David Jolly, the Democratic frontrunner in the Florida gubernatorial race, announced former U.S. Representative Gwen Graham as his running mate during a press conference Wednesday outside the Old Capitol.
“I want a lieutenant governor capable of serving our state, not just as my governing partner, but as a leader,” Jolly told supporters gathered for the announcement. The former Republican congressman said he considered “five or six” other candidates before settling on Graham. “The right decision is Gwen Graham,” he declared.
Graham, daughter of the late former Democratic Governor Bob Graham, accepted the nomination with a call to action. “I’m ready to govern with him — stakes are too high in this state to do otherwise. The Florida we all love is slipping away,” she said during the event.
Bipartisan Congressional Partnership
Jolly emphasized the bipartisan relationship he and Graham developed during their overlapping time in Congress. The two worked together on preventing offshore oil drilling, gun reform, and veterans’ rights initiatives. Jolly served as a Republican representative from 2014 to 2017, spent six years as an independent, and switched to the Democratic Party in April 2025.
The announcement followed an inadvertent leak earlier this week when a reverend allied with the campaign revealed Graham’s selection during a Sunday service. News outlets reported the pick on Monday, two days before the official announcement.
Democratic Field Narrows
The ticket announcement came just days after Jolly’s top Democratic opponent, former Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, ended his campaign following a cancer diagnosis. Jolly now faces nine other Democratic candidates in the primary but maintains significantly higher name recognition than his same-party rivals.
Despite his advantage in the Democratic primary, the general election presents substantial challenges. Republicans hold a voter registration advantage of approximately 1.5 million over Democrats statewide. No Democratic candidate has won a statewide race since 2018, when Nikki Fried captured the agriculture commissioner position for one term.
The Republican field includes Trump-endorsed U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, setting up what political observers expect to be a competitive general election race. Florida’s political landscape has shifted significantly rightward in recent election cycles, making any Democratic statewide victory an uphill battle.
Jolly’s campaign launched with the slogan “Jolly Florida,” which supporters chanted enthusiastically at Wednesday’s event. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the 53-year-old’s bid to become Florida’s first Democratic governor in nearly a decade.
