A wide, eye-level, indoor photograph of a political campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa. In the foreground, from behind, gubernatorial candidate David Jolly (in a dark suit) and Lieutenant Governor candidate Rep. Gwen Graham (in a vibrant pink blazer) stand side-by-side on a stage, facing a crowd of supporters. Graham has their right hand placed affectionately on Jolly’s back. The crowd in front of them is cheering, with many supporters holding up blue and white campaign signs that read 'JOLLY GRAHAM FOR FLORIDA.' The venue is decorated with warm overhead lighting and chandeliers, creating a festive, energized atmosphere.
David Jolly (L) and Gwen Graham wave to supporters at Tampa Women’s Club in Tampa, Florida on June 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

The field in the race to become Florida’s next governor is officially set, and David Jolly, a former Republican, is all most Democrats seem ready to talk about—especially after the 53-year-old former Congressman recently selected former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate.

Graham, 63, lost the Democratic primary to Andrew Gillum in 2018 (Gillum lost to Gov. Ron DeSantis by just 32,463 votes, or 0.4%). 

But five other candidates are in the Democratic primary alongside Jolly, including:

  • Evelyn Castillo-Bach, a criminal justice reform activist
  • Thomas Eloy Fernandez, retired Air Force scientist and business owner specializing in social services
  • Dayna Marie Foster, a math teacher and political science major at Florida State University who also serves as a Young Adult Voices advocate
  • State Rep. Dotie Joseph
  • Stephann Norman, a Robinson High School graduate who’s worked a variety of jobs including a stint as a bagger at the MacDill Air Force Base Commissary

Supporters packed the Tampa Women’s Center last Friday to greet Jolly and Graham as they prepare to presumably face U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds who is the frontrunner in the Republican primary where former House Speaker Paul Renner, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and weird white guy James Fishback are among the 11 qualified GOP candidates.

Jolly has raised $6 million in his race while Donalds has over $82 million.

Primary elections are set for Aug. 18.

Campaign signs struck to a window as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
A woman holds a campaign sign as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Rep. GWEN GRAHAM is announced to a crowd of supporters by CARRIE JOLLY as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing her as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Rep. GWEN GRAHAM is announced to a crowd of supporters by CARRIE JOLLY as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing her as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Rep. GWEN GRAHAM is announced to a crowd of supporters by CARRIE JOLLY as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing her as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Rep. GWEN GRAHAM speaks to a crowd of supporters as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing her as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Rep. GWEN GRAHAM speaks to a crowd of supporters as Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing her as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID JOLLY holds a campaign rally at The Woman’s Club in South Tampa while introducing Rep. GWEN GRAHAM as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Florida Senators Ashley Moody (L), Rick Scott (R) Credit: Ray Roa

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This article appears in June 11 – 17, 2026.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...