Party: Democrat
Age: 53
Education: Undergraduate: Emory University B.A. in History, 1994; Law School: George Mason University J.D. cum laude, 2001
Occupation: Attorney
Campaign website: davidjolly.com
Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
My top priorities are housing, healthcare, and education. I will lower homeowners’ insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund and investing in workforce and affordable housing. I will expand Medicaid and access to primary care through community health clinics, nonprofits, and federally qualified health centers. I will lead a 10-year renaissance in public education by raising teacher pay and ensuring that all publicly funded choice schools meet the same academic and service standards.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Florida’s affordability crisis starts with housing. I’ll work to lower homeowners’ insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund that removes hurricane coverage from the private market, reducing premiums. I’ll fully fund the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to expand workforce and affordable housing, remove unnecessary barriers to increasing supply, and invest in smart growth so working families, seniors, veterans, and young Floridians can afford a place to call home.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
The current ballot language of the proposed property tax elimination amendment is under court consideration. I am concerned that the current effort is rushed and puts critical services and rural counties at risk, while likely shifting the tax burden to renters. We do need property tax relief. As Governor, I would propose moving to greater local control of property taxes, exemptions, and spending, recognizing and better addressing the financial disparity between urban and rural communities.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Florida should place an immediate moratorium on new data centers until regulations address their impacts on electricity demand, water resources, and utility costs. Families should not subsidize massive commercial energy users. I support capping regulated utility profits at the national average to lower bills while maintaining reliable service. We must also accelerate clean, renewable energy to reduce costs and protect Florida’s environment.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
Florida needs a ten-year renaissance in public education using tourist tax dollars. We need more community public schools, in more neighborhoods, with more teachers who are paid more. Florida should lead the world in public education. A ten-year funding model would move teacher pay into the top-half nationally, recover failing properties, and invest in secondary services like food security and mental health counseling.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
I support strong, responsible border security and cooperation with the federal government. However, I oppose Florida’s use of 287(g) agreements and detention policies that undermine due process and erode trust in our communities. Law enforcement should focus on those who commit violent or property crimes, regardless of where they were born. I support a pathway to legal work status for law-abiding undocumented immigrants and protections for refugees and legitimate asylum seekers.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
I support the protections of reproductive freedom as historically provided by Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. I would work to strengthen Florida’s protection of individuals to make their own healthcare decisions without the interference of government, including introducing the language of the 2024 Florida constitutional amendment providing for reproductive freedom that garnered the support of 57% of Floridians.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
Florida must address water pollution and quality throughout the state, continue Everglades restoration, address contamination north of Lake Okeechobee that contributes to unhealthy discharges, protect springs, wetlands, and beaches from overdevelopment, and maintain a ban on offshore oil drilling. We must also strengthen resilient infrastructure to address sea level rise, flooding, and stronger storms while expanding clean energy and smart growth to protect our environment and economy.
This Voters Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.