David Jolly announced on Wednesday that he is launching a $1 million statewide advertising campaign as the general election for Florida governor begins, as a Democratic-aligned poll shows him narrowly ahead of Republican Byron Donalds.
Jolly’s campaign said that the initial seven-figure buy will place its first general-election ad, titled “Broken,” on broadcast television and digital platforms across Florida. The advertisement focuses on affordability and state policy, highlighting housing, food, health care and gasoline costs while also criticizing Florida’s approach to education and the expansion of data centers.
The campaign paired the advertising announcement with polling conducted Aug. 10-13 by Hart Research Associates. The survey of 600 likely Florida voters found Jolly with 46 percent support and Donalds with 45 percent, while 9 percent were undecided.
The one-point difference falls within the survey’s margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll found Jolly leading Donalds 48 percent to 37 percent among independent voters and 49 percent to 42 percent among Hispanic voters. Jolly also received support from 18 percent of registered Republicans surveyed, while Donalds drew support from 7 percent of Democrats.
Jolly was viewed favorably by 30 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 20 percent. Donalds had a 40 percent favorable rating and a 43 percent unfavorable rating.
The poll was commissioned for what Hart described as “interested parties,” and Jolly’s campaign said it was released by the Democratic Governors Association.
Jolly and Donalds advanced from their respective party primaries Tuesday and will compete in November to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
