Guest Commentary | Why principled Republicansshould vote for Democrat David Jolly
David Jolly, the Democratic nominee to be Florida’s next governor, is a man of character, conviction, and courage who knows what it means to support and defend our Constitution. He also has credible, common-sense plans to address the pressing issues that face all Floridians today. The former Republican Congressman and now Democratic gubernatorial nominee is running an inclusive campaign, building coalitions, and promoting policies for all the people of Florida.
As a person who considers myself a principled conservative, served as a U.S. Treasury official in the administrations of both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and also swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, let me tell you why Republican and independent voters should vote for David Jolly for Governor and not Republican nominee Rep. Byron Donalds.
Despite the recent press attention, Congressman Donalds can’t hide from his close ties to President Donald Trump by wiping his name from his campaign website to try to dissociate himself from the President and his failing policies. Floridians simply cannot afford to have Donalds be our next governor.
My main reason is his Congressional voting record for President Trump’s costly and chaotic economic policies, which raise the cost of living for all of us. Donalds is an acolyte of President Trump. Don’t trust his words. Evaluate him by his actions. Look at his votes in Congress. Here are three votes that make my point on how he votes with Trump every time to raise our cost of living.
First, Donalds supports Trump’s illegal tariffs that make no economic sense. He has voted to support Trump’s tariffs when he could have opposed them. As voters know now from experience at the grocery store, tariffs are indirect taxes that importers pass on to consumers.
Second, Donalds has voted to support Trump’s illegal and costly war in Iran, which now has spread throughout the Middle East and caused the needless deaths of at least 18 American soldiers with hundreds more casualties. Trump’s unilateral war of choice closed the Strait of Hormuz, which cuts off the supply chains for oil, gas, food, fertilizers, and other essential goods.
Within days of Trump’s war, we all witnessed the rising price of gasoline at the pumps here as a direct result of his unauthorized war in Iran. In addition to the direct cost of Trump’s war to taxpayers — over $40 billion and climbing — gas prices will remain artificially high thanks to Trump and Donalds until the war the President started and is losing ends.
Third, Donald’s campaign website stated before the primary election that he supports “fiscal sanity,” yet he voted to support Trump’s budget-busting One Big Beautiful Bill, which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates will raise our national debt by an $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years. Today, our national debt has surpassed unsustainable $40 trillion and threatens our financial stability and economy. It now is an estimated 120% of our national gross domestic product (GDP), which undermines needed economic growth and job creation.
Don’t believe Donalds’ words about the economy or what he will do as governor for Florida’s economy. Look at his Congressional votes to always support Trump’s disastrous economic policies that increase our cost of living.
Based on his Congressional voting record alone, Floridians simply cannot afford to have Congressman Donalds sitting as Trump’s proxy in Tallahassee. David Jolly has the common-sense policies we need to put Florida on a sound, more affordable foundation for sustained economic growth for all Floridians. That’s why I’m voting for David Jolly to be Florida’s next governor.
Greg Wilson is co-chair of Republicans for Jolly and a former deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Treasury Department (1986-89).