By Christine Sexton| Senior Reporter
“If the national party doesn’t come, I worry about this race.” — Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly speaking at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club in Ybor City’s Cuban Club on Sept. 25, 2026 (Photo by Don Kruse for the Florida Phoenix)
The chance for Florida Democrats to recapture the governor’s mansion after more than a quarter century may never be better as witnessed by Decision Desk HQ ‘s recent shift in the Florida governor’s race from Republican Byron Donalds to a toss up. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly, the former member of the GOP who could be the first Democratic governor in the mansion since Buddy MacKay, says he needs the National Democratic Party to spend some money on the race to ensure the win.
While some Republicans are distancing themselves from President Donald Trump, Republican Congressional District 16 hopeful and Sarasota resident Sydney Gruters is staying put. She says she’s proud to have the president’s endorsement and says Trump is doing a wonderful job. Her continued support of the president isn’t surprising giving her husband, Joe Gruters, is the chair of the National Republican Committee and longtime Trump supporter.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit Friday in the 20th Judicial Circuit against a construction company and its executives for allegedly scamming 80 residents out of at least $1 million in insurance payments over four years. The AG said he hopes other people who think they have been scammed by the company come forward “so that we can beef up our suit even further.”
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