Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly’s campaign for governor said Friday it has raised more than $2 million since launching less than four months ago.
The campaign reported collecting nearly $1 million in the most recent fundraising quarter, covering July 1 through September 30, with contributions coming from donors across Florida and all 50 states. Jolly’s fundraising total includes money raised directly by his campaign and through Florida 2026, a political committee supporting his effort.
The announcement comes as Jolly continues his “Make Florida Affordable Again” tour, a four-day, four-county swing through Southwest Florida aimed at highlighting issues of affordability and cost of living. His campaign said the fundraising momentum reflects growing support from voters responding to his calls for economic accountability and an end to partisan divisions in Tallahassee.
“I’ve now held 79 community meetings across the state. And this is just the start. We’re hosting town halls from Milton to Miami and Naples to Nocatee, listening to voters and building a campaign that reflects the priorities of all Floridians,” said Jolly.
Former State Sen. Rod Smith compared Jolly’s outreach strategy to that of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, noting that Jolly is emphasizing personal engagement and early voter contact.
“My friend Lawton knew that at this early stage, what matters most is how many voters you’re reaching and how many voices you’re listening to,” Smith said. “David is everywhere in Florida right now, doing exactly that.”
Recent polling cited by the campaign shows Jolly narrowly leading or tied with potential Republican contenders including U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and House Speaker Paul Renner.
Jolly, who represented Pinellas County in Congress from 2014 to 2017, has framed his campaign around affordability, accountability, and political moderation after three decades of Republican control in state government. A former attorney and political commentator for NBC and MSNBC, Jolly has said his campaign seeks to appeal to voters across party lines.
“With more than $2 million raised, we are blessed by the support of small-dollar donors and major contributors who are investing in the change our campaign represents,” Jolly said. “I’ve never been more optimistic about our opportunity to create change in 2026. The people know it, and the polls show it.”