PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Former Republican Congressman David Jolly has announced that he is running for governor of Florida and will do so as a Democrat.

Jolly formally announced his bid on Thursday, becoming the latest party convert, hoping to wrest back the state’s shift to the right. Under state law, term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis can’t run for reelection in 2026.

What You Need To Know • Former Republican Congressman David Jolly has announced that he is running for governor of Florida • Jolly, who formally announced his bid Thursday, said he is running as a Democrat • Jolly was first elected to his Tampa Bay area congressional seat during a 2014 special election, and was reelected for one full term

Jolly, 52, said he’s confident that issues such as affordability, fund

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