David Jolly wants to be Florida’s next governor, but his past words and evolving positions are already igniting backlash — not just from Republicans, but from within his own party.
In a resurfaced 2023 MSNBC interview (see below), Jolly appeared to brush off the Second Amendment entirely.
“Maybe I don’t [agree with the Second Amendment]. I don’t care,” he said. He also called for Americans to “crush the culture of guns,” making clear he supports sweeping gun control measures.
Those comments are now coming back to haunt him as he begins laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial run in the most pro-gun state in the nation.
🎥🎥 NEW AD: Florida Democrat David Jolly wants to take away your Second Amendment rights ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KcPr9Z004a
— Byron War Room (@ByronWarRoom) July 28, 2025
Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power didn’t hold back in his response. “David Jolly’s agenda is a direct attack on the Constitution,” Power said.
“He’s out of step, out of touch, and out of chances. Florida rejects gun control, rejects socialism, and rejects Jolly.”
Jolly, once a Republican congressman, has since jumped ship to become a Democrat — drawing comparisons to former governor and serial party-switcher Charlie Crist.
Power took aim at the transformation, calling Jolly “Temu Charlie,” a knockoff version of Crist’s failed brand of politics.
But it’s not just the Second Amendment that’s raising eyebrows.
In a recent interview with CBS Miami’s Facing South Florida, Jolly attempted to explain his shifting stance on abortion. Once a co-sponsor of federal legislation to define life as beginning at conception, Jolly now says he supports abortion rights and backs Florida’s Amendment 4 to restore Roe v. Wade-style protections.
“I would be a pro-choice governor,” Jolly said. He claims his political journey reflects growth, not opportunism. “Part of serving is learning,” he told host Jim DeFede, saying he now believes government should stay out of faith-based decisions like reproductive health.
J
olly also weighed in on immigration and criminal justice, blasting Governor DeSantis’s detention center plans near the Everglades — dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” — and opposing the 287(g) agreements that turn local law enforcement into federal immigration agents.
“Republican leaders in Tallahassee are attacking communities,” Jolly said. “We’re not going to celebrate cruelty.”
On taxes, Jolly rejected Republican proposals to eliminate property taxes as fantasy math. He floated targeted relief for first-time homebuyers instead, calling for “generational property tax reform” without defunding police, education, or water infrastructure.
When asked whether Florida corporations pay enough taxes, Jolly accused Republicans of giving away billions to special interests. He supported combined reporting rules to keep corporate profits in-state and fund services.
Jolly also pitched a “10-year renaissance” in public education. He promised a 30% teacher pay raise over several years and stricter accountability for private voucher schools, arguing public schools are outperforming their private counterparts despite lower funding and increasing political attacks.
Jolly claims he’s “post-ideological” — a former Republican and independent who now identifies as a Democrat. “I just want big ideas to solve big problems,” he said.
But for voters in Florida — especially the state’s vocal Second Amendment base — Jolly’s “big ideas” may sound more like a threat than a solution.
With Republicans holding a 1.3 million voter registration advantage and grassroots activists already mobilizing, Jolly’s path to the governor’s mansion may be less about evolution — and more about survival.
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