Jolly winning independents as he battles Donalds for Florida governor’s mansion

Published August 18, 2026 8:14pm ET | Updated August 18, 2026 8:52pm ET



Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is winning among independent voters in the general election, according to a new poll conducted in the days leading up to the state’s primary elections, which advanced Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in the GOP field.

The poll, conducted by Hart Research Associates, found former Republican Rep. Jolly holding a double-digit lead over Donalds among nonaffiliated voters. With only 11% of independents undecided, 48% favored Jolly compared to the 37% who favored Donalds.

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