Florida’s gubernatorial race just heated up in a major way.
Democrat David Jolly thought he could hide his radical anti-gun agenda from Florida voters.
But Byron Donalds just exposed David Jolly’s anti-gun agenda that will leave Florida Democrats scrambling.
Donalds hits Jolly with his own anti-gun statements
Congressman Byron Donalds, who has President Trump’s endorsement for governor, released a 60-second campaign ad this week that puts Jolly’s gun control statements front and center.
The ad compiles video clips from Jolly’s MSNBC appearances where he made a series of statements about firearms that go well beyond typical Democrat positions.
Florida voters are getting their first real look at what Jolly actually believes about gun rights – straight from his own mouth.
“The ability of anybody to buy a gun is absolutely foolish. An absolutely foolish thing,” Jolly declared during one television appearance.¹
But that was just the beginning of his anti-gun tirade.
“We have to crush the culture of guns in the United States,” Jolly continued, making his hostility toward law-abiding gun owners crystal clear.²
The former GOP congressman who switched parties didn’t stop there – he went even further in attacking constitutional rights.
“Why do we say that we get instant access to guns simply because the Second Amendment says you have a right to a gun? It doesn’t say you have a right to walk into Walmart and buy a gun and buy ammunition,” Jolly argued.³
Jolly goes even further with Second Amendment comments
But Jolly didn’t stop with those comments. In what might be his most damaging statement yet, he essentially said he doesn’t care about the Second Amendment.
“You can say I don’t agree with the Second Amendment. Maybe I don’t. I don’t care,” Jolly stated with stunning arrogance.⁴
Think about that for a moment – a man running for governor of Florida just admitted he might not support one of the most fundamental rights in the Constitution.
“I think we need dramatic, ambitious gun control laws in the United States and go for the moon shot,” Jolly declared, revealing his true agenda.⁵
These aren’t statements taken out of context or misinterpreted – they’re direct quotes from Jolly’s own mouth during his appearances on liberal media outlets.
The timing here isn’t coincidental. Since switching parties, Jolly has worked to build credibility with Democrat primary voters who questioned his conversion from Republican to Democrat.
Now these video clips raise questions about whether Jolly’s positions go beyond what most Florida Democrats actually support on gun policy.
GOP leadership pounces on Jolly’s statements
Republican leaders in Florida wasted no time responding to the ad and Jolly’s comments.
Ryan Smith, who runs Donalds’ campaign, released a statement that framed the choice facing Florida voters.
“David Jolly wants to abolish the Second Amendment and trample on Floridians’ fundamental rights and freedoms,” Smith declared. “Florida voters should tell radical Democrat David Jolly to keep his hands off their guns.”⁶
Smith then drew the clear contrast between the two candidates.
“As the Trump-endorsed candidate for Florida governor, Byron Donalds will always protect our Second Amendment rights. Byron has never bowed to the gun control lobby, and he never will,” Smith stated.⁷
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power delivered an even more scathing assessment of Jolly’s candidacy.
“David Jolly’s agenda is a direct attack on the Constitution,” Power stated. “He’s out of step, out of touch, and out of chances. Florida rejects gun control, rejects socialism, and rejects Jolly.”⁸
Power didn’t hold back in his criticism of the former congressman turned MSNBC contributor.
“Jolly, a failed congressman turned MSNBC talking head, delusionally thinks he can be Florida’s next governor,” Power continued. “He recently said we need to ‘crush the culture of guns’ and admitted, ‘maybe I don’t [agree with the Second Amendment]. I don’t care.’ He’s not hiding it—he wants mass gun control, leaving law-abiding Floridians defenseless.”⁹
The political math looks challenging for Democrats
The timing of this ad creates problems for Democrats in a state where gun rights have strong support.
Republicans currently hold a significant advantage in Florida voter registration, as GOP Chairman Evan Power noted.
“Thanks to strong Republican leadership and the Democrats continually embracing failed policies like open borders and attacks on our constitutional rights, the GOP holds a 1.3 million voter registration lead,” Power explained.¹⁰
That registration advantage isn’t just a number – it represents a fundamental shift in how Floridians view the two parties.
The smart money says this ad will be devastating for Jolly’s chances because it forces him to defend positions that are wildly out of step with Florida voters.
Consider the political landscape Jolly is trying to navigate. Florida is a permitless carry state, meaning residents can carry a concealed firearm without a permit.
Florida is one of 29 states that allow constitutional carry, and the policy has strong support among voters.
Now Jolly has to explain to these same voters why he wants to “crush the culture of guns” and impose “dramatic, ambitious gun control laws.”
Donalds demonstrates why Trump endorsed him
The timing and execution of this attack shows exactly why President Trump endorsed Byron Donalds for governor.
Donalds understands the political battlefield and knows how to go on offense when it matters most.
The congressman has built his political career on unwavering support for conservative principles, including strong Second Amendment rights.
“When it comes to the rights of the people of Florida, there is no negotiation, there is no compromise, I will always stand with you,” Donalds told supporters at a recent Trump 47 fan club meeting in Palm Beach.¹¹
This stands in stark contrast to Jolly’s flip-flopping on fundamental issues.
Jolly entered Congress with support from the NRA Political Victory Fund, but now supports comprehensive background checks and banning so-called “assault weapons.”¹²
The political transformation is so dramatic that even Donalds expressed confusion about Jolly’s party switch.
“It’s lost on me how you can go from being an elected Republican congressman to then running statewide as a Democrat,” Donalds explained. “It’s not even a situation of party labels. It’s really about what the ideals of both parties stand for. We are diametrically opposed to Democrat policy and Democrat philosophy, and so to make such a fast change, it makes no sense to me.”¹³
The real lesson here is that voters are getting a clear choice between two very different visions for Florida’s future.
On one side, you have Byron Donalds – a consistent conservative who has never wavered in his support for constitutional rights and has President Trump’s full endorsement.
On the other side, you have David Jolly – a political opportunist who has completely reversed his positions on fundamental issues and now openly admits he might not support the Second Amendment.
Florida Democrats thought they had found their salvation in Jolly’s party switch, but this devastating ad exposes the fundamental problem with their strategy.
You can’t run a candidate who wants to “crush the culture of guns” in a state where gun rights are deeply popular and constitutionally protected.
¹ Michelle Vecerina and Kimberly Leonard, “Byron Donalds campaign slams Jolly’s ‘radical anti-gun’ stance in new ad,” Florida News and Politico, July 29, 2025.
² – ¹³ Ibid.
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Author: rgcory
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