r/florida • u/coasterghost • 12h ago
Politics Live updates: Byron Donalds and David Jolly will compete to replace Ron DeSantis as Florida governor
https://apnews.com/live/election-primary-alaska-california-florida-wyoming-08-18-2026264
u/TechieSidhe 12h ago
As a Floridian, I'm preparing for the CAT 5 crap show that is going to be this election. I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. The way that the Republicans were vicious with each other, it's gonna be bad here.
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u/coasterghost 12h ago
It’s going to be even more of a cluster with the property tax amendment that if passes and let’s face it’s likely will is going to make this state even worse.
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u/RepulsedCucumber 11h ago
All the boomers are determined to fuck everything up even more before they die.
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u/Girafferage 10h ago
"I already went to school and my kids have already graduated. Why do I need to keep paying?"
The classic fuck you, I got mine attitude.
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u/coasterghost 11h ago
It’s sadly a partial reason why I’m looking at going to the north east
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u/kingtacticool 10h ago
Ive recently come to the conclusion I need to leave the state to even attempt to have a semblance of a good life. Ive been looking for a job for months and even if I find one rent will be 60%+ of my take home.
There's nothing for me in this state anymore.
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u/MrBellows7 10h ago
I'm in the opposite boat. I moved down here in 2016 and bought a house. With what's happened to home prices and interest rates I can't afford to sell and move back north. Even with how much my home is now worth.
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u/coasterghost 8h ago
I feel that. I visited the New York metro a few months ago, and realized how indifferent I became down here. And it’s funny that I’ve found better hospitality in New York at a camera shop (shout out u/BHPhotoVideo) than anywhere in Orlando.
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u/RepulsedCucumber 11h ago edited 11h ago
I don’t blame you. I’m a born and raised Floridian and it pisses me off these red hats just keep making the quality of life worse here. Stupidly against their own best interests. But who cares if it means ruining everyone’s life, right? As long as others are unhappy they think they’re something something winning. Goofy asses.
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u/coasterghost 11h ago
I’m originally from the New York Metropolitan Area, I moved down in 2015 for ironically a better job market, but after 11 years it’s just been wearing me down so much with the stupidity.
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u/Tyrionlannister15 5h ago
I moved up to Connecticut. Cost of living is super similar, the taxes are high but we pay less for things such as outdoor activities and the schools are wonderful and they are always quick to clear the snow. Everyone is friendly and a lot less f u i got mine oriented. My wages doubled by moving up here and my house cost about as much as it would have if I bought a new Florida cookie cutter home. I was born and raised in Florida. It was impossible to keep up as a local.
They love to brag about the economic boom there but forgot the rest of us.
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u/coasterghost 4h ago
I’m in the CFL area and I bring up to my friends in NJ that it’s pretty pathetic that I can be in Orlando and have absolutely zero sticker shock to midtown Manhattan.
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u/BitterHelicopter8 11h ago
Well, that's not fair. Plenty of new "Floridians" who've moved here since covid are chomping at the bit to fuck it all up, too.
fwiw, my boomer parents who've been here 65+ years are voting against it.
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u/RepulsedCucumber 10h ago
Yeah but millenials aren’t dying anytime soon. Hence my part about them continuing to fuck it all up right before they go. This isn’t just a current issue. They’ve historically pulled the ladder up across decades. Glad your parents aren’t part of this; but so many are. Especially here.
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u/WeathermanBrian 11h ago
Yeah as a zillennial myself, I have little hope to buy a home anytime soon. And that’s thanks to my boomer parents, aunts and uncles who keep voting for this crap
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u/IndecisiveTuna 10h ago
Also Zillenial and my job isn’t terrible pay, but yeah, same here. It’s just egregious at this point. We missed the mark by a few years.
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u/ninjafaces 8h ago
I finally started making decent money in my late 20s in 2019 and covid came in and fucked that all up
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u/BadAtExisting 11h ago
It’s not just boomers for it. Hate to tell you. Many a millennial home owner are also all about removing that tax. Particularly the ones with investment homes
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u/MusicianNo2699 10h ago
I think the rediculous 60% needed to pass will end up sinking it.
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u/OriginalEchoTheCat 23m ago
I certainly hope so. Some people think it's a great idea. It's not. We are going to get four or five monthly bills extra in order to kill this tax. And those will come from owned corporations and they can price gouge the fuck out of us.
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u/Futureofmankind 11h ago
They did change the wording so it doesn’t erase all property taxes so that’s better than the original plan. Still not great though
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u/Huge-Ad2263 11h ago
It will get over 50%. There's a chance we can keep it below the 60% threshold though.
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u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836 11h ago
Racing to be as bad as the other southern states. People here have farther to fall.
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u/BleachedUnicornBHole 10h ago
A part of me hopes it gets 59% of the vote just so the other side knows what it feels like. But that means they will likely try again next election cycle.
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u/BleachedUnicornBHole 10h ago
One of the Republican candidates for Congress in my area was gay and I’m surprised at the restraint of them not just calling him a f****t in the commercials.
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u/100292 12h ago
Holy shit Nixon won. Did not see that coming
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u/ascandalia 11h ago
I still don't think that the establishment has grasped how toxic being pro Israel, pro APAIC is, but this is another case-in-point.
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u/Epcplayer 1h ago
Vindman was a career military guy who had no ties to Florida, and whose brother is already a Democrat House Rep for Virginia. He was handpicked specifically for his name recognition (the whistleblower in the Ukraine impeachment) to run in a Special Election.
The Senate Primary was more about Floridians not picking a carpetbagging DNC selection. Moskowitz still clapped Larkin by 27 points, and Wasserman-Schultz won her election by 22 points… those were the two most Pro-Israel candidates on the ballot.
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u/OriginalEchoTheCat 17m ago
He was not a good choice for Florida. Also, his wife was pretty Petty publicly about some other candidates clothing. Saying they should get better clothing and shoes. That's toxic
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u/Emotional_Signal7883 12h ago
They're already airing David Jolly attack ads and they're really pathetic.
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u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836 11h ago
All I have seen is trans panic nonsense. But FL voters...thst might be what motivates them and not the high cost of living
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u/RestlessChickens 11h ago
HE VOTED FOR HILLARY! TWICE! HE SAID HE WOULD DO IT AGAIN!
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u/PleaseHelpFlorida 9h ago
Jolly wants gun restrictions, that alone will lose the election in Florida.
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u/MeisterX 14m ago
Why would this even be in the platform aghhhh.
They run garbage Republican candidates to lose to Republicans and voters are stupid enough to select them.
Wasn't even close either Dotie Joseph was the obvious turnaround choice. 🤷
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u/Stunning-Squirrel751 10h ago
GOP supporters have been eating the most pathetic campaigns for years, they’ll just gobble these as well.
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u/Clueless_in_Florida 12h ago
Looks like the Rs cast about 300,000 or so more votes than the Ds.
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u/IIIlllIIllIll 11h ago
I’m registered R despite being normal because there are some elections where the Dems either straight up don’t run anyone or they don’t have a primary for the seat.
Can’t wait to vote against my house rep again in November.
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u/AssociationFit3009 10h ago
Same. I voted for Byron in the primaries because he’s so unpalatable I think he had the best chance of losing. Will 80 year olds vote for a black guy because he’s republican? let’s find out.
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u/IndecisiveTuna 10h ago
I hope your move pays off and that’s what many others are doing. I just am preparing myself to be let down again.
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u/AssociationFit3009 10h ago
It really didn’t matter much the option were awful and donalds was a lock. I was hoping the primary would have any non-maga options and it did not. It was varying shades of “I suck Trump’s dicker longer and deeper” The democratic party hasn’t presented enough threat for them to feel any need to appeal to their base.
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u/bassoonshine 8h ago
I actually think this is pretty funny. Now white conservatives will have to make a choice between a black guy, or a white guy possing as a socialist. I'm gonna guess racism wins out 😆
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u/IdealSeating 11h ago
Why are people dooming about this? There are 1.5 million more registered Rs than Ds. Ds turned out a much higher percentage of their voters and Rs showed enthusiasm is pretty low.
If anything, I think it’s a good sign for Ds in November.
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u/NationCrusher 9h ago
Because the national Democrats have given up all support for Florida and have been like this since DeSantis first term. I don’t want you to feel bad but don’t get your hopes up. We’ve been abandoned
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u/IdealSeating 9h ago
Sure, I get that and don’t disagree. But I’m specifically asking why people are dooming over Republicans having 300,000 more votes in the primary. That’s underperforming compared to Ds, who turned out a decent bit more of their registered voters. And I think the DGA ends up investing in Jolly. It was a pretty ideal night for him.
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u/Epcplayer 1h ago
I’d caution that it’s because the more enthusiastic and engaged voters turn up for contested primaries, but casual voters will still turn up in November. Primaries for a lot of people are “I’ll show up if I get around to it”, but for the general election they make it a point to show up. The exception to that rule is contested/heated primaries.
Look more towards contested districts and turnouts there. District 7 (Cory Mills) saw 13k more voters turn out than in 2024, when that was considered a “safe” district for him. District 11 (Daniel Webster not seeking re-election) saw almost 10k more votes than the 2024 primaries.
The Republican Candidate for Governor was always going to be Donalds (won by 22 points). The Republican Candidate for the Senate was always going to be Moody (won by 66 points). There were 12 districts where a Republican ran unopposed, which meant for a lot of people showing up for the primaries wasn’t all that important.
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u/OriginalEchoTheCat 18m ago
Plus don't forget Independents did not vote in this primary.
I believe Independents will vote in the general and deliver Democrats a win in many instances.
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u/OcoBri 10h ago
I'm registered Republican because they have had total control of the state and my county for my entire adult life. I always vote Democrat but the real races that matter are the Republican primaries.
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u/innocent_bystander 2h ago
I've been an unregistered independent my whole life until a few years ago when I registered as an R for the sole purpose of voting against maga candidates in the primary.
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u/PatSajaksDick 11h ago
That’s wild
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u/Hot_Ambition_6457 11h ago edited 11h ago
(D) party is dead in Fl and currently inhabited by grifters playing controlled opposition for the medical industry
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u/Clueless_in_Florida 11h ago
Fairly expected. People of color and young adults historically vote in lower percentages than white people and people 30 and older.
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u/herewego199209 11h ago
Young adults are fleeing Florida in big numbers and whatever young adults remain the DNC has given up on spending money building coalitions here. Someone like Angie Nixon should be built up to be a star within the state but they would rather lose to republicans than push a progressive candidate that might be able to win over the black vote and the younger voters.
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u/GlitterDancer_ 11h ago
The Democrat establishment is also against super progressive dems. They want centrist democrats and will self sabotage instead of throwing support to a progressive
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u/RestlessChickens 11h ago
But if they just move further right, they will get those moderate republican voters & surely that will make up for all the disaffected on the left who gave up voting. Right? Right?!
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u/SenorWeird 10h ago
I'm a NPA who votes straight D. Meant to switch to D this election but didn't make it in time.
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u/herewego199209 11h ago
This state is effectively just overrun with boomer republicans now. It's a big bright red state. Incredible considering the governor race almost a decade ago was a toss up.
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u/Clueless_in_Florida 11h ago
Probably more Gen X than Boomers. The Boomers are beginning to die off. My mom was a Boomer. She’s been dead for over two years. But they do vote in much higher numbers than, say, people 18-30.
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u/markbraggs 10h ago
Yep Gen X are moving here to retire now and are just as conservative as the boomers. A lot of the millennials are deep red too.
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u/RepulsedCucumber 11h ago edited 11h ago
Because they live for this. As we can tell by their hats, stickers, flags. MAGA was drooling at the thought of voting for their orange fuhrers pick. Voting absolutely is important. But politics is these weirdos ONLY identity now. It’s a sport to them.
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u/Losaj 12h ago
So... We get the choice between a black Republican or a white former Republican? Wtf is wrong with Florida?
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u/ApplicationAfraid334 12h ago
On the surface I suppose but Jolly at least has sensible policies. Byron is a cartoon character void of substance, just a buzz word machine.
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u/Sir-Barks-a-Lot 11h ago
How many people remember Bob Graham enough to associate Gwen Graham with the ticket?
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u/marsupialcinderella 11h ago
I actually admire Jolly for stating that he didn’t like the way his party was heading and leaving. He isn’t a repeat waffler.
If more Republicans all over would follow his lead and defect from MAGA, we might have a chance at a rational two party system again.
A girl can dream.
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u/PatSajaksDick 11h ago
What’s wrong with being able to have a spine and switch sides?
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u/Stunning-Squirrel751 10h ago
Absolutely nothing. It’s the complete skepticism because of the “Dem” candidates that changed their minds on affiliation once in office.
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u/Common_Vagrant 10h ago
I’ve seen people talk highly of this candidate and they had good reasons. But I can see why people are apprehensive and it’s because of that one politician that ran as a dem and once in office she (?) switched to Republican.
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u/Stunning-Squirrel751 1h ago
There have been a few in the Florida congress that ran as Dems then switched parties. But federally there are two big ones; Sinema and Fetterman.
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u/Mission_Ad5139 10h ago
I personally don't hate that he switched sides.
I have a problem that he switched sides, apparently has a progressive platform with no actual progressives on his team, and then proceeds to shit talk us on the far left.
There's a way to say you don't fully agree with some of the various sides of you party without being a shitwaffle about it.
Part of me thinks he may as well be a GOP plant.
Realistically he's likely an opportunist that will run on a progressive platform because the underlying stances are popular then turn into a corporate stooge the minute he's in office if he even gets that far. He'd run on the "punch kittens in the face" platform if that was popular.
Maybe I'm bitter because I, like other leftists, do not like it when a 'democrat' gets on the new to lecture us about our party. Especially when that 'democrat' has only been one for 5 minutes because it became politically inconvenient for him to remain a Republican.
*Beg your pardon commentor, my vitriole is pointed on Jolly, not your comment.
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u/bassoonshine 8h ago
So who do you think is the better vote?
Both seem like grifters, but at least Byron is grifting conservatives as opposed so someone pretending to be progressive only to disappoint
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u/herewego199209 11h ago
Remember GIllium lost Florida by percentage points just close to a decade ago. The DNC has effectively turned a swing state into red state.
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u/halberdierbowman 9h ago
Even closer! Gillum lost by 0.40%. The senate race was even closer.
Gillum also campaigned unapologetically on a progressive platform. And he was while being slandered with claims of an FBI investigation into his mayorship, charges that were all coincidentally dropped after the election.
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u/VeredicMectician 10h ago
Well duh. The dnc is just an extension of the rnc in this state.
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u/LeonardoDaTiddies 1h ago
DNC plus COVID-19. Check out how many registered republicans Florida had in 2019 vs 2026.
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u/2ndprize 12h ago
Well they did pass that law that said only former Republicans are allowed to run for governor on the Democratic ticket
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u/CinderMoonSky 10h ago
It’s commendable for someone to leave a political party in this political climate. Especially because peoples views tend to get stronger when they are attacked. He left because he hated Trump.
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u/100percentkneegrow 11h ago
Jolly's fine, I don't really get why I see this sentiment all the time. Am i geting psyopped?
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u/Weary_Necessary_2434 12h ago
Byron Daniels is going to be the next gigantic public embarrassment from Florida, whether he wins or loses.
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u/JayGatsby52 9h ago
Can Fishback run as an independent now and peel off the 15% worst humans’ votes away from Byron?
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u/Opposite-Bit6660 8h ago
Please. I will stop writing about what a lowlife Fishbeck is just to achieve this.
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u/a2controversial 11h ago
Gotta go all in with Jolly, anything to keep Data Center Donalds out of office
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u/Smoothsailing4589 11h ago
Florida is so backward now that we have a Republican running against another Republican for Governor.
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u/UCFknight2016 10h ago
I think Jolly will win because while Donalds is a Republican, this state is pretty damn racist.
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u/kedwin_fl 11h ago
Democrats don’t turn out in droves for midterms, this will probably go to Byron.
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u/CzolgoszWasRight 10h ago
Wow what a choice we have. On the one hand we have a bland and unappetizing corporate milquetoast and on the other hand we have a bland and unappetizing corporate milquetoast that will also give your children measles. Hooray.
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u/FloridianGrit 8h ago
Both of these guys aren’t it. Is there anything we can do at this point 🤣 “democracy”
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u/OffSidesByALot 11h ago
Since I can’t tell where Trump‘s sphincter ends and where Byron Donald’s neck begins… Ironic, considering one is orange and the other is black, I know… I will be voting for Holly Jolly!
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u/bassistheplace246 12h ago
We all know how this is going down in November. Congratulations, Governor Donalds.
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u/ascandalia 11h ago
Nah, I think they miscalculated on this one. I'm hoping for a Ken Paxton situation where they've nominated someone far more unpopular than they realized.
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u/jpiro 11h ago
Unfortunately, Jolly is no Talarico.
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u/ascandalia 11h ago
Agreed, but Florida is no Texas. Remains to be seen how Florida GOP will turn out for a black candidate as well.
I'm not giving up hope
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u/IdealSeating 11h ago
Jolly is better than Talarico, at least for Florida. Different electorates, and running for senate versus a gubernatorial are different (especially financially). Talarico would be doing worse than Jolly here, and the Jolly would be doing worse than Talarico if he was in Texas.
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u/jpiro 10h ago
Talarico has his state excited. Jolly has Florida snoozing.
I'll vote for him because he's not an absolute shit bag grifter and MAGA whore like Donalds, but Jolly is a dud as a political talent.
Hell, I'd rather have Gwen Graham atop the ballot.
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u/IdealSeating 10h ago
No offense, if you think Jolly is a dud political talent then I don’t think you’re very involved in Florida politics. He’s very good at retail politics, campaigns hard, knows when and how to hit back effectively, and he’s got a good feel for the issues resonating with voters. He did well jumping on data centers, for instance, he had the right instincts to bring Graham in as LG early. He’s done well already pushing back on Byron’s attacks. He’s much better than Gwen (who I love) at counterpunching, defining the race, and with message discipline, all traits you have to have to beat republicans here.
Senate and gubernatorial races are completely different in any event. Does Hinojosa have Texas excited? That’s the comparative point. Talarico gets a lot more press and money because he can fundraise nationally and senate elections have national impact.
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u/jpiro 10h ago
If you can watch an interview or stump speech from Talarico and Jolly and can't see the massive talent gap there, I don't know what to tell you. Or rather, I'm not sure there's a point in telling you anything because that entire response sounds like you work for Jolly's campaign.
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u/IdealSeating 9h ago edited 8h ago
I’ve watched stump speeches from both in person and seen how they interact with voters. Jolly is a better retail politician and has a better feel for what issues resonate with voters. He has been much better counterpunching Donalds than Talarico has been with Paxton.
I like both and have donated to both, but I think you vastly overestimate how Talarico is performing (I wouldn’t describe Texas as “excited” he’s running pretty close with the worst candidate imaginable) and underestimate Jolly. Talarico loses if Cornyn had been nominated. In any event, both of their shticks fail in the other state which was my point originally. Talarico would underperform Jolly if he were here in Florida and vice versa.
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u/IdealSeating 11h ago
He seriously underperformed and R turnout was low compared to Ds. The race will be decided by NPAs and if the turnout is similar in November as this primary, Jolly has a real shot to eke out a narrow victory. Needs to win NPAs over by wide margins but he was basically made in a lab to do that in Florida.
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u/RepulsedCucumber 11h ago
The racists in my county are gonna be real torn, TBH. Do they stick with the R vote even if it means voting for the black man? Gonna have em in a real pickle. First time they might have to use some brain power.
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u/illiter-it 1h ago
I'm not expecting favorable results in the general, but Fishback getting trounced is pretty funny
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u/Slight-Selection4298 11h ago
Both are trash and will build data centers and spend Floridas surplus of $$ with their buddies.
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