Jolly targets undecided Black voters as Florida governor race tightens

In the final stretch of Florida’s gubernatorial contest, Democratic hopeful David Jolly emphasized that the roughly 10% of Black voters who remain undecided could swing the election. Recent Mason-Dixon and YouGov polls indicate 11-14% of Black respondents are still unsure, a higher share than among white or Hispanic voters. Jolly criticized Republican Byron Donalds for removing references to Donald Trump, suggesting the move aims to attract those undecided voters, while Donalds’ team argued Black Floridians expect to be earned and not taken for granted.

Both candidates have been courting Black constituencies, holding separate appearances at Florida State University, Florida A&M and FAMU, with Jolly promoting a “post-partisan” platform and promising to end state-level ICE-ICE collaborations. Donalds, who would become Florida’s first Black governor, has appealed to Black Democrats, questioning the party’s delivery on promises. Jolly’s event featured applause and support from congressional leaders Jim Clyburn and Al Lawson, underscoring his bid to broaden appeal beyond the Democratic base.