Sean Pittman will serve as Transition Chair for David Jolly, if the leading Democrat is elected Florida Governor in November, the Jolly campaign announced Tuesday.

Pittman, a senior partner of the Pittman Law Group in Tallahassee, served as a top-level campaign adviser to Andrew Gillum’s 2018 gubernatorial election and was an integral part of the team that helped propel Gillum to a near-miss victory that saw the progressive Democrat just 34,000 votes from victory. That 0.4% margin places Gillum’s race among the closest in modern American history.

Beyond that, Pittman has spent decades advising local governments, universities, hospitals, businesses and nonprofits, shaping public policy and serving as a key mentor to future leaders. The Democratic strategist has built relationships all over Florida.

As Transition Chair, Pittman will oversee transition planning, including personnel recruitment, policy coordination and strategy development.

“Florida is facing serious challenges that require serious preparation,” Pittman said. “This is about making sure there is a team of the best and the brightest ready to move immediately on the issues that matter most: housing, healthcare, education, and making life less expensive for working families. The transition process is where ideas become action, and we intend to be ready.”

While various controversies have marred the Gillum name since his loss in 2018, his race is remembered as a come-from-behind surge that saw Gillum ride a progressive wave to defeat Gwen Graham in the Democratic Primary.

Coincidentally, news broke Monday that the Jolly campaign had tapped Graham to be Jolly’s running mate, though the campaign did not confirm the news. While the news was celebrated by many, some Democrats who still have not warmed to Jolly as the potential nominee for Governor worried her selection was adding yet another moderate to a campaign already seen as centrist.

Pittman’s ability to rally voters who often sit on the sidelines, as he did in the 2018 Governor’s race, could give Jolly’s campaign the push it needs to continue growing its coalition, especially after Jolly’s top opposition in the Democratic Primary, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, announced last week he was suspending his campaign.

Some younger, more progressive Democrats across the nation have been lamenting the party’s tendency in the Trump era to run more on opposing Republican policies than on exciting voters with their own ideas and policy proposals. Pittman’s selection suggests that the Jolly campaign is continuing its efforts to build a coalition that transcends strict party ideology.

“One of the many things that stands out about David Jolly’s campaign is the effort to bring together people with different experiences and perspectives,” Pittman said. “That coalition-building doesn’t stop on Election Day. Building a successful administration means bringing together the best people from across Florida who are committed to solving problems and delivering results.”

Pittman’s selection may seem premature. While Jolly is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for Governor, qualifying for the race doesn’t end until Friday, and it won’t be clear until then whether he’ll become the nominee at that time, or have to wait until after the Aug. 18 Primary.

But while Pittman’s work will be centered on preparing for a future Jolly administration, that work will also aid Jolly’s campaign in the meantime, including developing strategies to tackle affordability issues such as rising housing costs, skyrocketing insurance premiums, rising healthcare costs and other economic pressures facing Florida’s working families.

“Floridians are dealing with rising costs, an insurance crisis, and struggles in housing and healthcare,” Jolly said. “We’re building a team that is ready to act immediately to address those challenges. Sean’s leadership helps ensure we’re not just talking about solutions — we’re preparing to implement them.”

And Jolly agreed that Pittman helps round out the campaign’s work and prepare Jolly for service if elected.

“Sean Pittman understands how Florida works and how to bring people together to solve problems,” Jolly added. “For decades, he has earned the trust and respect of leaders across our state because of his integrity, judgment, and commitment to public service. What we’re building is bigger than a campaign. It’s a movement to restore responsible government, expand opportunity, and make Florida affordable again. Sean’s leadership will help ensure we are ready to deliver on that mission from the moment we take office.”

Already, several prominent Democrats have celebrated Pittman’s selection.

“Sean is perfectly placed at the crossroads where public policy, law, and government affairs come together. His deep knowledge of our state will help us bring back the effective, responsible government we all need in Tallahassee,” said Sen. Tracie Davis, the incoming Senate Democratic Leader. “This is yet another reason I’m supporting David Jolly: he will build an amazing team to get to work Day One.”

Sen. Shevrin Jones, a veteran South Florida leader now running for Florida’s 24th Congressional District, celebrated the vast relationships Pittman has built over his decades of political work, noting that his Rolodex has been built by “a long history of reaching out, building connections, and making things happen to improve people’s lives.”

“Selecting Sean as Transition Chair shows how serious David Jolly is about taking action right away to address Florida’s affordability crisis for everyone in every community,” he said.

And Allison Tant, a former Florida Democratic Party Chair, praised Pittman’s work advocating for communities, local governments and other organizations.

“You gain such valuable insight into the issues that are affecting our state. There’s no one better than Sean Pittman to take that knowledge and use it to bring on the change Florida desperately needs right now,” Tant said.

In addition to his political work, Pittman serves as Senior Partner and CEO of Pittman Law Group, which specializes in government, administrative, education and corporate law. His clients include cities and counties, aviation and port authorities, universities and a variety of private interests, such as corporations and professional associations. He has experience representing clients before the Florida Cabinet and Legislature, which gives him valuable insight into the inner workings of state government.