David Jolly praises Sarasota voters’ ‘Red Wall’ challenge

At Fogartyville event, joined by Graham, Taddeo and local candidates, he mobilizes 400.

By Ed James III

Original Air Date: Nov. 3, 2026

Host: In the last days before the 2026 midterm elections, the race for Florida governor made two high-profile stops in Sarasota – within just 48 hours of each other. On Halloween afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly brought his ‘Believe in Better’ campaign tour to the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, joined by his running mate Gwen Graham, Florida Chief Financial Officer candidate Annette Taddeo, and a lineup of local leaders. WSLR reporter Ed James III was there.

Ed James III: Fogartyville was packed with an estimated 400 people, and the atmosphere was energized on Saturday. Even solidly Republican Sarasota has become a critical battleground in this gubernatorial race, and candidate David Jolly emphasized that voter turnout on the Suncoast could be decisive.

Before the main speeches, attendee Sharon Folta shared her perspective on the candidate’s platform and background.

400 RSVP’d for the event. | Photo: Werner

Sharon Folta: I’m supporting David Jolly because I believe that Florida is a home for everyone and everyone should feel supported… He’s actually going to work on affordability and work on our healthcare system. He’s for all people. Being a Republican used to mean that you were just conservative in your fiscal policies. He is for fairness and he has been that way throughout his career, whatever side of the aisle he’s been on.

EJ: Home rule and state preemption emerged as central themes during the rally. Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch addressed the crowd on the importance of local authority.

Jen Ahearn-Koch: This is selfishly why I support David Jolly and Gwen Graham. It’s because of their commitment to restoring home rule, to strengthening local decision-making, and to reducing state preemption of local authority. At the end of the day, home rule is about trusting citizens, trusting local elected officials, and respecting the voice of the people who call Sarasota home.

EJ: Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, a Republican supporting the ticket, also shared his perspective on state governance and local decision-making.

Thomas Paine, AKA Manny Lopez. | Photo: Werner

George Kruse: We have a unique opportunity this year in the state of Florida to elect a moderate, normal, common-sense person. We’ve watched Tallahassee go way off the rails, and there’s no checks and balances… We finally have an opportunity to pick somebody who can go up there with a veto pen in their hand to right the ship for all of us in the state of Florida.

EJ: Former Sarasota Mayor and Congressional candidate Kelly Kirschner also spoke, pointing to the coalition attending the event.

Kirschner at the Jolly rally. | Photo: Werner

Kelly Kirschner: I’m proud that we have been growing a big tent for this campaign—of not only great Democrats, but great Republicans of good faith as well… This is a moment for radical centrist populism. Can we fundamentally build back this country? Can we unite people around something that says we have to get money out of politics and restore sanity to the dialogue?

EJ: When David Jolly took the stage alongside running mate Gwen Graham, he laid out his closing argument for the campaign.

David Jolly: We are going to win this race! And when I say ‘we’, I mean all of us… as a people, we are going to choose a new direction for the Sunshine State. People say, ‘Why are you running for governor?’ and I say: housing, healthcare, education, and no data centers. But this isn’t a moment where we are simply litigating policies—we’re litigating who we are as a people… We have got to stand up and do something differently.

EJ: Jolly also gave a shoutout to a recent victory in Sarasota County, turning it into a rallying cryfor his statewide campaign.

Jolly at Fogartyville on Saturday. | Photo: Werner

DJ: It was Sarasota County that started to show us how to tear down that red wall! What you all have done with your school board, what you have done with your elections has demonstrated that when you put candidates forward running on the right values, people will respond in a moment of crisis.

EJ: Outside the hall, a former candidate and member of Florida Veterans for Common Sense  came dressed as Thomas Paine on behalf of Florida Veterans for Common Sense. Here’s Manny Lopez:

Manny Lopez: I’m here representing Florida Veterans for Common Sense… We use Thomas Paine as our role model and his philosophy on politics… At least if we get Jolly in there, he can help right the ship and help the people.

EJ:  For WSLR 96.5 FM News in Sarasota, I’m Ed James III.

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