Gubernatorial candidates celebrate victory, switch focus to general election

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Both Congressman Byron Donalds and former Congressman David Jolly feel like they have the advantage now going into November after clobbering their respective primaries.

But the party is over, and the race for Florida governor will be decided on the issues.

“The president knows this, we had this conversation, he was very clear: You have my endorsement but now, the real work begins,” Donalds said.

“When we deliver more healthcare to people, we actually reduce the cost to a system in a state where we are 49th in avoidable hospital costs and when we commit to public education, we create a more resilient economy,” Jolly said.

The fact remains, Florida has more than a million more registered Republican voters than Democrats, meaning Jolly would need to pick off some Republicans, win all Democrats and convince a lot of Independents to win the governor’s race.

“If it sounds familiar, Republicans and Independents tonight, it’s because while some of your leaders may have forgotten their roots, I have not forgotten mine,” Jolly said. “You see, this moment is bigger, bigger than party.”

“It’s really been week in and week out effort by my team the last 18 months and the people responded to it and we’re very fortunate to have been successful,” Donalds said.

The gubernatorial candidates will run alongside a progressive Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Angie Nixon and a seasoned attorney general for the Republicans, Sen. Ashley Moody.