Jolly Targets Florida Surgeon General in Final Push Before Election

David Jolly told roughly 150 supporters in Gainesville on Wednesday that his first act as governor would be to remove State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo from office. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate used the event to criticize Ladapo’s record while urging voters to prioritize education and healthcare affordability ahead of the Tuesday election.

Jolly spoke at the Gainesville Woman’s Club as part of his statewide Believe in Better Tour. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and his running mate, Gwen Graham. The crowd, largely composed of older Alachua County Democrats, listened as Jolly addressed Amendment 3. He described the measure as a preemption issue that strips local communities of the power to tax and set budgets.

The candidate spent about 30 minutes discussing what he called an economic crisis for families. He repeatedly mentioned teacher wages, stating that educators are paid last in the nation despite their daily efforts. He framed education as a central pillar of his platform, a stance that resonated with attendees like 18-year-old Ezekiel Baker. Baker noted that he comes from a severely underfunded school and believes Jolly’s reform proposals could benefit many students who currently lack proper resources.

Jolly’s comments on the surgeon general role referenced Ladapo’s work with Gov. Ron DeSantis to roll back school vaccine mandates. Ladapo previously compared those requirements to slavery, arguing they infringe on parental rights. Jolly said he values science and data and confirmed he intends to replace the current official if elected.

The race is tight. An Oct. 21 University of North Florida poll of 1,471 voters showed Republican challenger Byron Donalds leading Jolly 49% to 47%. The margin of error was 2.8%. While Alachua County has about 26,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, Republicans hold a statewide registration advantage of 1.5 million. Frost told the crowd that helping voters make a plan increases their likelihood of voting by 90%. He noted that Florida Democrats lost the 2018 race by fewer than seven votes per precinct.

Pat Farrell, president of the Alachua County Progressive Caucus, said she attended the rally to help take back the state from what she described as corporate control. Jolly concluded his address by asking the audience what they owed to the moment as history watched. Early voting in Alachua County ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 3.