In October, David Jolly’s campaign put out an upbeat statement about the candidate’s fundraising efforts in the 2026 governor’s race.

The $2 million he’d raised since June was an indication of Jolly’s “continued momentum” and of “strong grassroots enthusiasm,” his campaign said.

But that’s not how some in the Florida politics community saw it.

“To run for governor of Florida, one needs to be able to raise several million dollars per month,” Barry Edwards, a political consultant and commentator who’s worked with both parties, wrote in a text message. “David is not showing the proclivity, dedication or skill to do this.”

Jolly, a former Republican congressman who is running as a Democrat, has essentially had the primary field to himself since he entered the race in June. His team says he

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