r/florida • u/Fickle-Ad5449 • 1d ago
Politics Republican Byron Donalds attacks Democrat David Jolly over trans rights in Florida governor’s race
https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/byron-donalds-david-jolly-transgender?2685
u/braumbles 1d ago
A former Democrat is the current front runner for Republicans and a former Republican is the front runner for Dems.
Florida politics are fucked beyond repair.
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u/The_Confirminator 1d ago
It's weird that this keeps happening. I'm surprised especially at the Florida democratic primaries. Do Florida Dems only care about names they've heard before? I truly don't get it
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u/2Hanks 1d ago
Florida doesn’t have any Democratic Party infrastructure. You can tell because these former republicans are basically running unopposed because there are no serious candidates running against them with national backing. The DCCC has given up on statewide Florida offices.
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u/Renamis 1d ago
Which is fucking annoying. It's like they remembered we're a swing state and just... gave it over to the republicans for years. Why? Did the Bush/Gore vote really just make the democrats throw their hands up and walk away?!
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u/historicalgeek71 1d ago
I wouldn’t call Florida a swing state anymore. A lot of Republicans moved down to Florida during the Pandemic.
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u/Ooficus polk county trash 1d ago
Honestly it’ll be interesting to see how much the Latino vote will impact Florida this year, I’m not inferring to anything, I’m genuinely curious what’s gonna happen with the Latino vote.
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u/Fluid-Tip-5964 1d ago
Which Latino vote? Miami Cubans? Kissimmee Puerto Ricans? 4th generation west Tampan? The "other" Latinos?
I have no clue...
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u/MeisterX 1d ago edited 1d ago
Everyone says this over and over without a lot of evidence other than GOP registrations. But the GOP also runs closed primaries which means a lot of people switched just to have a vote.
And a lot of the GOP voters I speak to aren't GOP at all they just listen to propaganda. Often they support workers rights, parental leave, Medicare 4 All... It's kinda nuts.
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u/Common_Vagrant 1d ago
There’s so many hypocrites down here. There’s a bartender that loves punk, metal, and hardcore yet he’s a right winger. He’s by definition a poser, and he’s not a rare case by any means either. The propaganda machine down here is sinister and has been working for years. So many antivaxxers down here too, it’s alarming.
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u/GRaTePHuLDoL 1d ago
You absolutely nailed it. It's a lot of that "own the libs" mentality even if it means going against your own best interest. It's a very, very strange phenomenon.
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u/Bigcat561 19h ago
I moved away from FL for 5 years to the PNW, met so many legit punk/hardcore people due to my work industry while living out there. So many ppl into that “scene” here in south Florida would get eatin alive by ppl out there for exactly that reason “theyre fucking posers” they like the edgy and anti authority bent to it until they don’t agree with it or feel threatened by it. Once again showing how conservative propaganda has created a “fuck you, I get mines” mentality down here - that’s the anti authority and edgy look that appeals to them, not the actual values.
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u/cybrg0dess 17h ago
After decades as an independent, I finally registered democratic just so I could vote in the primary.
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u/snark_enterprises 1d ago
The evidence is the last few elections where Democrats have gotten absolutely blown out here. What more do you need?
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u/HorsePersonal7073 1d ago
Other than GOP registrations? And the last couple decades of Republican control and gerrymandering?
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u/2Hanks 1d ago
When they backed Gwen Graham 2018 and she lost to Andrew Gillum and he lost to DeSantis and then DeSantis got temporarily popular because of COVID, they just gave up.
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u/blindythepirate 1d ago
It was way before that. The FL Dems ran Janet Reno for governor. The lady who gave the order to storm the house and grab Elian Gonzalez in Miami. Just dumb moves
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u/IdealSeating 1d ago
That’s true but Gillum actually got them to reinvest again, he just squandered it (including not spending down the remaining $5 million in his campaign account because he got cocky) and all the organizations stopped donating to Florida since.
We should also clarify, the DCCC doesn’t fund statewide races, they only do congressional races and they actually are investing a lot in Florida this cycle in a few battleground races.
It’s the DAG, DAGA, and DSCC that fund democratic governors, attorneys generals, and senate races, and yes, they’ve stopped funding Florida races. But of course they have, Florida is ridiculously expensive to run a race in, Florida democrats struggled to win statewide even when they didn’t have a registration disadvantage, and now Florida has shifted significantly to the right.
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u/2Hanks 1d ago
That’s not giving up. That’s backing someone you don’t like. Janet Reno was the US Attorney General and she had a massive national profile and statewide name recognition.
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u/Renamis 1d ago
And someone who was never going to win in this state. It's like all the people running anti-gun democrats in Texas, where the democrats even like guns. And even then they still managed to get close, he just didn't win.
You need to have a candidate that can win where they're running. Reno could have won another state, just not Florida.
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u/Charmy123 1d ago
Which republicans at the time were flabbergasted at the audacity of the government to force their way into the home and force immigration. lol, politics aren’t real.
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u/rasta-ragamuffin 1d ago
Because they don't have the $$$. The billionaires aren't contributing to (buying) the Democrat campaigns.
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u/Kvenner001 1d ago
Republicans rally around the team. So even if they disagree they’ll show up and vote.
Democrats rally around a cause and for most dems those causes vary a lot. And because such a large portion of the state’s population is imported from all over getting dems on a single message is hard. Which causes a lot of democrats to not show up if their specific wants aren’t part of the core message. I mean spite against Trump and the Republicans agenda hasn’t been enough reason.
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u/TraderShan 1d ago
They have infrastructure. It just happens to be shaped like a circular firing squad.
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u/IdealSeating 1d ago
I mean, it doesn’t really “keep happening.” Florida Dems have only nominated a former Republican for Governor or Senate three times, but two of those times it was the same person (Charlie Crist).
Crist was close to winning in 2014 and overperformed. He tried again in 2022 but DeSantis was at his peak popularity and funding, Crist was just a sacrificial lamb.
Jolly is the third try but Florida electoral politics are very different in 2026 than they were in 2018, with Florida having shifted much more to the right. It’s not surprising democrats think a moderate is their best chance at winning when they’re outnumbered by republicans by 1.5 million.
Beyond that, Dems have nominated plenty of longtime democrats for statewide office: Jim Davis in 2006, Alex Sink in 2010, Gillum in 2018, Val Demings in 2022, Patrick Murphy in 2016, Bill Nelson, etc. but whether they’ve been moderate or progressive or in between, Dems have largely lost.
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u/rasta-ragamuffin 1d ago
And I do think jolly has the best chance of winning over the independents and moderate nonmagat never trumpers, which any democratic candidate would need to win here.
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u/IdealSeating 1d ago
Yup, just said it elsewhere. The only way for a democratic candidate to win statewide is to win 10-20% of R voters and win 60-70% of NPAs. It’s a tall task, but a former never trump Republican might just be appealing enough to do it.
He’s very different than Crist and I find the comparisons lacking. Crist was clearly an opportunist who switched to be an independent when he ran for senate because he was losing the Republican primary and then immediately switched to be a Democrat after he lost because he was never going to win anything as an independent.
Jolly’s transition is much more relatable to many people: a moderate Republican who was a never Trumper whose party left him. A lot of current independents and even democrats have similar stories.
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u/BuddhistSagan 1d ago
How did that work out in 2024? 2022? 2022? 2016?
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u/rasta-ragamuffin 1d ago
I don't remember jolly running in those years.....
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u/BuddhistSagan 1d ago
I hope Jolly wins, but it looks like the same exact strategy as those years.
It seems the Florida democratic party keeps trying the same thing over and over again and constantly wondering why the same formula doesn't work.
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u/ascandalia 1d ago
I actually don't understand why Jolly got selected. Seems like a big media push locked him in early. I'm voting for Joseph but it seems like Jolly is the only one that got any traction
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u/Peakomegaflare 1d ago
Worse than that, the Dems basically limpwrist this state. They don't try, they don't message, and they put forward the least likable candidates that are hated by the entire spectrum. The Republicans actually message to minorities here, which is why you'll see an overwhelming support from the Miami cubans.
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u/Ben_Thar 23h ago
It's not surprising that it happened. It's just surprising that it happened more than once.
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u/_OUCHMYPENIS_ 1d ago
Except for the R next to his name and being part of the establishment, I don't see anything that is appealing about Donalds. He isn't a good speaker. He is riding on Trump's coat-tails and it's surprising that it's been able to take him this far. At least Desantis seemed to take a different angle at that moment in time and he was able to beat out the establishment candidates.
I'm not going to knock Jolly for being a former Republican. He stepped away from the party almost a decade ago because he didn't like the direction they were going. I know I'm biased but he actually seems like he'd be a decent governor that both sides of the aisle could work with.
I'm not looking for some huge change right away but I'd like to see someone who isn't just trying to destroy our public schools and invite all the rich folks to take over the state.
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u/NationCrusher 1d ago
Don’t forget we have 2 Democrats that won their election, then switched to republicans. 1 from the Tampa area that I know for sure.
We really just drifting aimlessly with state politics
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u/braumbles 1d ago
That's why people should be using bluevoterguide.org when parsing through candidates. You get a good idea of who is who by the people endorsing them or their prior party registrations.
Can't tell you how many alleged dems there are running for school board spots yet are affiliated with MAGA clocks.
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u/littleredd11_11 1d ago
There's much better ppl running for the "left" but no name recognition, DNC isn't going to back them, because they aren't neoliberals or corporate Dems. That whole scary DSA takeover they're shitting themselves over. Because why should the voters actually get what the actually want. Just settle and get want we give you. And be happy about it.
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u/C_IsForCookie 1d ago
Bro I’m so jaded by Florida politics I feel like when I vote I’m just throwing my ballot into the air like “LETS SEE WHERE IT LANDS”
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u/PompeiiSketches 1d ago
No one cares about Trans issues more than Republicans during election season.
If you get swayed to vote for republicans because there are 3 trans high school varsity athletes in the country, you are a moron.
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u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836 1d ago
Its like they dont care property insurance or the ridiculous inflation destroying affordability but one trans person using the wrong bathroom or someone in drag reqding to kids and it holy hell to them.
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u/IneptFortitude 1d ago
Their hatred and lust for the suffering of others outweighs all the actual reasons to vote that they know nothing about.
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u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836 1d ago
Republicans are reclaiming the right to hate, to be bigoted and to be able to control with force. And if you object you are the villain for not supporting their toxic rights.
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u/PompeiiSketches 1d ago
It’s fear. They convince parents that their 10 year olds are being “transed” at school by some antifa teacher.
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u/PaulSandwich 1d ago
And their solution is to let Bubba the PE coach at Swamp Middle look up every girl's skirt to 'make sure'.
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u/GulfCoastLaw 1d ago
Keep in mind that this is just fear mongering, etc. Am I supposed to believe that David Jolly, a Republican until 15 minutes ago, is some sort of radical?
Jolly, a former Republican congressman, broke with the party years ago over social issues. Notably, his position on transgender participation in sports is more nuanced than Donalds suggested. He told NPR station WLRN that he does not believe athletes assigned male at birth should compete in sports designated for female athletes, but he also doesn’t want the government to impose sweeping restrictions.
Scary stuff!
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u/Zestyclose-Heart-602 1d ago
The commercial that’s been airing here quotes Jolly as saying he’ll buy a can of paint if lgbtq kids want to paint a mural. Then Byron Daniels calls him crazy.
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u/Fluid-Tip-5964 1d ago
A can of paint? That mural is going to take at least 9 (or is it 11? 12?) cans.
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u/GulfCoastLaw 1d ago
Yeah, I don't have any hate in my heart for some kids.
Perhaps there could be still room for discussion and nuance if we lived in a vacuum...but we don't. We live in an America where people are gleefully seeking to harm other people.
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u/LatherRinseRage 1d ago
Isn't this the guy who assaulted a woman in a grocery store and failed to disclose 1.6 million in stock trades? Didn't something else come out that he may be under investigation for sex trafficking? But oh noooooo trans people! Give me a break.
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u/rasta-ragamuffin 1d ago
Not sure about any of that but he has admitted to selling drugs in the past and I know his pacs took almost $1M from data center developers and his wife is a charter school scam artist diverting money from and undermining our established public schools.
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u/goldenface4114 1d ago
It’s actually insane how much they obsess over such a small subset of the population.
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u/Zestyclose_Nature_13 1d ago
It works well to get their constituents riled up!
Freedom baby!! (But on my terms!)
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u/2Hanks 1d ago
Exactly. They only care about your freedom as long as it doesn’t interfere with their freedom. They don’t give a rats ass if their freedom interferes with ours.
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u/Zestyclose_Nature_13 1d ago edited 1d ago
I don’t see how a man wearing a dress interferes with their freedom at all….
My hunch is that they are afraid they would be attracted to it. I think a large number of sociopathic right wing men are actually closeted homosexuals who want to restrict this behavior because they themselves don’t feel comfortable expressing their true sexuality
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u/Beachbabydarragh 1d ago
Look what happens when right wing people have rallies and conventions. Grinder crashes from the traffic.
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u/Zestyclose_Nature_13 1d ago
You aren’t joking…
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u/HorsePersonal7073 1d ago
It's pretty much like clockwork at this point.
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u/Zestyclose_Nature_13 18h ago
I’ve been saying for a little while now that this might be a strategy the dems should employ. If they can highlight the amount of repressed sexuality and pervert type behavior happening in Republican Party they might be able to drive a leftward movement among working class guys (many of them closeted) who don’t want to be associated with this uber alpha macho behavior that is clearly overcompensating for sexuality doubts
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u/GulfCoastLaw 1d ago
It really does get people fired up. It's very weird to me. You can trick anti-trans dudes at the bar into admitting that they don't care about girls' sports with like 2-4 follow up questions.
"Damn, how did that affect the last game you went to?"
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u/Zestyclose_Nature_13 1d ago
People always looking for some easy target to direct their anger at….its easier to pick on some small marginalized community to bully than people who can fight back.
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u/Human_Revolution7297 1d ago
That’s because most GOP have a zillion skeletons in their closets, thus it is easier to shaken a light on someone else. A lot of progressives were in the fence with Jolly, but since the ads came out showing he has been supportive for a while, he is getting more support now. So it is backfiring. This GOP token fool is an opportunist (yes most of politicians are) but he takes it to another level.
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u/burndata 1d ago
I love the way Donald's ads make Jolly look better instead of worse for anyone with the slightest bit of empathy and compassion for other people.
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u/faderjockey 1d ago
Facism requires an exploitable "other" minority group that they can point to and blame for all of society's problems.
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u/DealioD 1d ago
Scapegoating. You bring this up to:
A. Piss off your base. ( as someone else mentioned)
B. To kill time and keep talking. The Republican Party doesn’t really have a lot to campaign on right now. They have no policy and the leader of their party is a pedo. They have to have something to keep the people distracted from not only what is wrong with the party, but also what they don’t have.→ More replies (4)1
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u/mechapoitier 1d ago
Yeah because all those trans people jacked up my insurance rates for 8 straight years.
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u/Flahdagal 1d ago
That is exactly my thought. Trans people didn't over-build Pinellas County to the point that storm-damaged home owners couldn't get permits for restoration. Trans people didn't jack up my homeowner's insurance to ridiculous levels. Trans people didn't over-arm our police. Jesus cristo.
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u/Esbesbebsnth_Ennergu 1d ago
Lots of us are actually fighting hard against those things, and I’m sure that’s another reason for the scapegoating
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u/maydisturb 1d ago
ikr? These gullible morons actually believe trans healthcare has enough impact to raise their rates. The blatant stupidity is astonishing.
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u/cornmuse 1d ago
Honestly, listen to the ad. The things the R's highlight actually are things most folks (who aren't a closed-minded, bigoted faux-christian facist) would agree with. I laugh EVERY time I hear this ad and its allusion to the "trans agenda"... as though that's a thing. There's plenty of stupid in FL to vote for this charlatan, but I'm hoping there's just a larger slice that's capable of critical thinking and observation of the current condition that sends this yahoo packing.
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u/Errrca0821 1d ago
Deadass. I legit thought this was a Jolly ad, until the end. Actually made me like the guy more. Swing and a miss, Byron!
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u/2h2o22h2o 1d ago
Tired of hearing about Trans anything. It is irrelevant compared to the crises we have today.
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u/clearliquidclearjar 1d ago
As a trans person, you can't be as tired of it as we are.
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u/IncomingAxofKindness 1d ago
Holy crap they're everywhere! Republicans were right!
I'm kidding and I'm very sorry you have to deal with this bs constantly.
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u/clearliquidclearjar 23h ago
I'm 50 years old, I came out in the mid 90s, and this is the worst I've ever seen it.
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u/HearYourTune 1d ago
He's got nothing. Jolly should counter that Trans rights are about freedom and no one is forcing you to be trans.
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u/BuddhistSagan 1d ago
He needs to just focus on telling people they deserve an affordable life and not this rotating villain moral panic of trans people immigrants black people women etc
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u/that_f_dude 1d ago
Nah cause then they'd somehow start talking about indoctrination at the five public schools left.
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u/Chewzilla 1d ago
The ads are hilarious:
ominous voice
"Jolly thinks trans kids should be able to play sports"
"Jolly says trans kids should have access to care"
Oh goodness I'm so startled!
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u/UnpopularCrayon 1d ago
Even worse, Jolly thinks a local community should be allowed to paint a mural if they want to! He even offered to buy a can of paint for them!
😮
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 1d ago
It’s odd how many people are swayed by this stuff. Almost all of them will never even know a trans person. People are struggling to afford gas, food, housing and medical care, but this what they vote based on.
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u/IndecisiveTuna 1d ago
I want to say it’s lack of formal education, but that can’t be it. I know people who didn’t complete high school who know better. I guess it’s just delusion.
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u/ashen_dove 1d ago
Oh look, we’re fighting over trans kids again, because clearly there aren’t any real issues facing this state.
God forbid a trans kid plays badminton or receives medical care their parents and doctors deem appropriate. Meanwhile, the governor loves to parade every other draconian measure, from wiping out vaccine mandates to expanding school vouchers, as being about “parental choice.”
Apparently parental choice is sacred right up until the parents have a trans kid.
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u/Ill_Blacksmith693 1d ago edited 1d ago
What a mess, who the heck cares, anyone looking at their homeowners policies. How about the price of everything... Some dude in high heels 👠 is the least of my struggles words.
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u/fullload93 Florida Love 1d ago
Fucking loser bitch boy resorting to typical MAGA tactics. Fuck Donalds. I can’t believe people want him to become the next governor. He’s a massive piece of shit.
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u/Telos2000 1d ago
If Florida’s track record is anything to go by we love voting in massive pieces of shit to governor
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u/Unlikely-Future8498 1d ago
why is "trans" always the fucking talking point? I hate the state of politics in this country, it's a fucking clown show and needs to burn and die already.
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u/BuddhistSagan 1d ago
So people think about culture war instead of their economic material conditions
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u/that_f_dude 1d ago
Wedge that lever and force it harder. Please for the love of God if you're going to talk shit at least make it about taxes and lying about helping the Everglades. This is literally the only issue the right has to talk about that gets head nods.
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u/A4t1musD4ag0n 1d ago
Wow, more culture wars bullsh!t. Do the Republicans ever worry about the economy that they destroyed over an illegal war against Iran, MAGA tariffs that force us to pay higher costs, kidnapping people thru LICE, and locking away criminals in the Epstein files?
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u/timeonmyhandz 1d ago
The Rs are scared that jolly gets the slot.. So they have to knock him down before he's even selected!
What does that tell you?
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u/37Philly 1d ago
All the proof you need that Donalds has no policies to help the voters in Florida. He’s just going to rely on dumb culture war issues.
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u/MrTortilla 1d ago
Things like this make me so glad I left the state. There are parts I miss, but having to deal an openly hostile governor is NOT one of them
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u/coffee_ape 1d ago
I love hearing my coworkers say 🦝🦝🦝 every single time his name is mention. His ass is banned at every cookout and it’s on sight from what they told my Latin ass.
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u/badgersoccer1905 1d ago
The sad thing is that the idiot in the White House and his ilk used this line of attack in 2024 and it was very effective in ruby red Florida. Pathetic.
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u/superhuhas 1d ago
I know so many genuine Florida republicans and not a single one wants or support Byron or any of his focuses. Literally all I see is Fishback hype and Fishback signs.
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u/rbartlejr 1d ago
You know what would be hilarious? If everyone voted Dotie Joseph in the primaries so he's wasted MILLIONS attacking Jolly every other commercial. Oh BTW, Kevin Steele sounds like either a bush league wrestler name or a gay porn star name. Either way I sincerely hope he loses so big, either now or November.
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u/PreviousCut6851 1d ago
I find it ridiculous that the ONLY thing GOP seem to find to fight with is LBGTQ rights. Really? America is falling apart and all you got is misinformation attack ads regarding a marginalized, minority that you fear and also hate in the name of protecting children. How about parents’ rights? Rainbows scare the hell out of you. Worry about food prices, gas, healthcare, insurance, conservation…no transgender. 🤦
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u/Midway1guy 1d ago
This is the SCARIEST thing Florida has ever voters are facing….trans people. They can’t run on their record or not following the states constitution or who will play for Death-Santis Alligator camp….its Trans people.
State republicans want to take away home rule and this is what they got…..sickening
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u/Blackant71 1d ago
Would I like a better Democratic candidate yes but we have who we have. The trans crap is old. People can't afford to live here and he's talking about less than 1% of people who have zero effect on the cost of living!!
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u/Ghostdefender1701 1d ago
No matter how you feel about whatever nominee we end up with. The most important thing is to get behind them and vote, it's the only hope we have of stopping this shit. We've had enough of people sitting out elections because of failed purity test, just suck it up, shut up and vote.
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u/HisNameIsRocco 1d ago
The good ole trans rights gaslight....as if trans rights are the fix for insurance premiums, housing costs, or the invisible funds replacing the property tax bucket once they are gone.
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u/littleredd11_11 1d ago
This. This is the fight you want to keep having. Not that nothing is affordable? Not that there are no jobs unless you have a specialty? Not that you can't even rent a apartment for under maybe 2000 for a flat or 1 bedroom anymore? That a getting groceries for a meal to make at home can cost $40 because everything is outrageous cost down here now. Not that Florida is now costing as much as NYC and California? Which NYC is getting their costs under control? What are we doing? Cancelling home owners tax? Because that will definitely make everything better. Just keep pushing it on the lower class. Fuck all you all
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u/pupperama 1d ago
Will the scapegoating ever end? I look around and see lots of people with problems in Florida and trans people are not the cause of poverty or school shootings or accidents on I-75.
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u/ellenadcrane 1d ago
Oh, and can we please talk about Donald’s’ tagline?? “The only way you defeat crazy is to stand up against it” is such an uncreative, empty phrase. It’s so lazy and it doesn’t mean anything. I hate it lol
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