Former Rep. David Jolly is launching a campaign for Florida governor as a Democrat, hoping to staunch the state's lurch from purple to solidly red, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The onetime Republican, who previously weighed an independent bid for the role in 2022, believes he can succeed where so many other Democrats have failed. • "Different race, different cycle, different candidate," he told Axios in an interview. "This is a race with national implications, because if we win, we will have transformed national politics." • "We will have stopped MAGA in Florida, and the White House now runs through Florida in 2028," he said.

State of play: Jolly is the first Democrat to throw their hat into the ring, and could be the most high-profile candidate to run with Rep. Jared Moskowitz

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