Biographical Information
Education
Juris Doctor (J.D.) cum laude from the George Mason University School of Law; Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History from Emory University
Hometown
Dunedin, Florida
County
Hillsborough
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davidjollyfl/
Twitter/X Handle
https://x.com/davidjollyfl
Campaign Phone
727-386-9204
Campaign Twitter Handle
Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?
I am running for Governor to build a Florida that is more affordable, more accountable, and more focused on the future. I believe government should improve people's lives, the economy should work for everyone, and every Floridian deserves dignity and equal opportunity.
The first issue where I can make the greatest difference is affordability. Rising costs for housing, insurance, healthcare, childcare, and groceries have made it harder for working families to get ahead. I will support policies that strengthen workers' rights, raise wages, and create pathways to good-paying jobs.
The second issue is education. Florida needs a renaissance in public education. I will fully fund neighborhood public schools, raise teacher pay, reduce overcrowding, expand student support services, and protect the independence and excellence of our colleges and universities. By making Florida more affordable and investing in education, we can create opportunity and security for every Floridian.
What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?
Florida's environment is one of our greatest assets. Our beaches, springs, wetlands, rivers, and coastlines support tourism, recreation, agriculture, and local communities. Protecting them requires stronger stewardship and long-term planning.
Florida must accept the science of climate change and invest in resilience against sea level rise, stronger storms, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. Building resilient infrastructure today will protect communities and save taxpayers money in the future.
I support stronger enforcement against polluters, investments in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and accelerated restoration of the Everglades, springs, rivers, and estuaries. We must reduce harmful algal blooms and ensure clean water for future generations.
We also need smart growth policies that protect wetlands, beaches, state parks, and environmentally sensitive lands from overdevelopment.
Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?
Equitable, affordable healthcare is declining as federal subsidies shrink and states shoulder more Medicaid costs. Florida should expand Medicaid and bring home billions in taxpayer dollars now funding care elsewhere. Expansion would help hundreds of thousands access affordable coverage and reduce uncompensated care that drives up premiums.
As costs shift to states, we must also improve how care is delivered by investing in preventive services, behavioral health, maternal health, chronic disease management, and care coordination to reduce avoidable ER visits. Stronger fraud prevention, transparency, and efficient administration are essential.
Rural communities face provider shortages and hospital closures, so Medicaid dollars should stabilize local hospitals, expand telehealth, and support community‑based networks.
Healthcare shouldn’t depend on income or geography. By expanding Medicaid and modernizing care delivery, Florida can improve outcomes and strengthen rural communities.
The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?
Florida’s public lands are part of our shared heritage, and conservation is essential to our long‑term prosperity. As Governor and a member of the Board of Trustees, I would prioritize responsible stewardship, public access, and protecting natural resources for future generations—not short‑term interests. I support fully funding and expanding Florida Forever to preserve wildlife corridors, wetlands, springsheds, and working lands that safeguard water quality and reduce flooding. State parks should remain focused on conservation and recreation, not commercial development. I also support coastal resiliency, beach restoration, seagrass protection, and science‑based planning to address sea level rise. Strategic land acquisition and partnerships with local governments and conservation groups are key to protecting habitats and preventing costly environmental damage. Florida’s environment is the foundation of our economy and quality of life, and we must protect it for those who come after us.
Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?
Florida’s housing crisis is pushing homeownership and stable rentals out of reach for working families, seniors, veterans, and young people. As Governor, I would focus on lowering costs by fully funding the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund and ensuring those dollars build affordable and workforce housing as intended. I support smart‑growth infrastructure, mixed‑income development, and removing unnecessary local barriers that restrict supply. Stabilizing the property insurance market is also essential, as rising premiums are driving the affordability crisis. To reduce homelessness, I support a Housing First approach that pairs permanent housing with mental health care, addiction treatment, job training, and healthcare. We must prioritize veterans, seniors, youth aging out of foster care, and families at risk of eviction. Housing is essential infrastructure, and every Floridian deserves safe, stable, affordable homes.
What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?
Florida needs a ten-year renaissance in public education; a long‑term plan to strengthen public education by supporting teachers, improving curriculum, and keeping parents engaged as partners. The teacher shortage stems from years of low pay, rising living costs, burnout, and policies that have left educators feeling undervalued. I would prioritize higher salaries, housing assistance, loan forgiveness, and stronger mentorship and professional development to improve recruitment and retention. We must also improve school climate by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and expanding mental health and behavioral supports. Curriculum should be high‑quality, evidence‑based, and focused on literacy, math, science, civics, financial literacy, CTE, and media literacy, free from partisan interference. Parents deserve transparency and meaningful involvement, and parental rights laws should encourage collaboration rather than conflict. We must value educators and support Florida families.
Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?
Floridians are right to be more concerned about property insurance than property taxes because insurance costs have become one of the biggest threats to housing affordability. Premiums—not taxes—are now the primary driver of rising housing costs, affecting renters, homeowners, retirees, and condo owners. Stabilizing the insurance market must be a top priority. I support exploring a state catastrophic fund to remove natural‑disaster risk from the private market, lower premiums, and create long‑term price stability, while ensuring the system is actuarially sound and transparent. I also support no‑interest state‑backed loans to help condo owners cover required structural repairs that many—especially seniors—cannot afford. Florida must invest in resilience programs, strengthen homes against storms, and increase industry accountability so rate hikes are justified. Insurance affordability and housing affordability are inseparable, and restoring stability must be a core priority.