Democratic Governors Association announces $1 million to support Jolly’s campaign for Florida governor

The Democratic Governors Association announced Oct. 20 that it is putting $1 million toward support for Democrat David Jolly’s campaign for Florida governor, the Florida Phoenix reported. DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said the group is “proud to support Jolly,” according to the report.¹ The report does not say whether the money is going to Jolly’s campaign account, to a political committee or party, or to advertising.

A search of the DGA’s website on Oct. 21 found no release about the $1 million. The two items the site returned for “Jolly” were a poll release and a statement from DGA Chair Gov. Andy Beshear on Jolly’s nomination.²

In an Oct. 13 memo, DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper wrote that the group was investing “at least $10 million each” in Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin, and seven figures in Alaska, Kansas and Texas. The memo named no amount for Florida.³ The Florida Phoenix reported Oct. 14 that Florida was not among the states named in the memo, and that DGA officials said the group had already made investments in Jolly’s campaign and the Florida Democratic Party for staff and research. That report gave no amounts.⁴

What state records show

The Florida Division of Elections contributions database, searched Oct. 21 across all candidates and committees, lists no contribution dated Jan. 1, 2023, or later from a contributor whose name contains “Democratic Governors” or “Governors Association.” The most recent DGA entry is a $50,000 check to the Florida Democratic Party dated Oct. 6, 2022.⁵ The newest contributions to Jolly’s campaign listed in the database are dated Oct. 9, 2026.⁵

Republican Governors Association

The same Division of Elections search lists no contribution dated Jan. 1, 2023, or later from a contributor whose name contains “Republican Governors” or “Governors Association.” The most recent RGA entry is a $600,000 check to Empower Parents PAC dated Nov. 3, 2022.⁵ A search of the RGA’s website on Oct. 21 for “Florida” and “Donalds” found no release announcing spending in the 2026 race; its newest Florida item was an Aug. 19, 2026, statement on the primary.⁶ SignalData found no news report of RGA spending in the race as of Oct. 21.

Who is on the ballot

The Division of Elections lists eight qualified candidates for governor and two qualified write-in candidates:⁷

• Dean Abrams, no party affiliation
• Charles Burkett, no party affiliation
• Jeffrey Datto, no party affiliation
• Moe Dimanche, no party affiliation
• Byron Donalds, Republican
• Scott Jewett, Libertarian Party of Florida
• David Jolly, Democrat
• Frank Russo, no party affiliation
• Write-in: Kathy Anderson and Erik Morris

What the records do not show

• No DGA document SignalData could open states the recipient, purpose or date of the $1 million.
• The state database does not yet show contributions to Jolly’s campaign dated after Oct. 9, and it shows only money given to Florida candidates and committees, not spending a national group reports elsewhere.
• The DGA and RGA report to the IRS on Form 8872; SignalData did not review those filings for this story.
• The contributor search matches names as filed; it would not show money given under a different committee name.