With just 11 days remaining until election day, President Donald Trump traveled to Fort Myers to rally supporters at Florida Gulf Coast University, lending his backing to local Republican hopefuls.
Ahead of the president’s arrival, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and congressional representative Byron Donalds—running for governor in his home district—took the stage. Both Republican figures characterized their Democratic adversaries, state Rep. Angie Nixon and David Jolly, as holding radical political views.
During his remarks, Trump asserted that Democrats had put forward “the most extreme anti-American radicals ever to seek office.” He added, “This is the free state of Florida, where people come to escape communists and not to elect them.”
We decided to take a closer look at several of the statements made during the event.
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Trump: Jolly is “pledging to turn Florida into a sanctuary state.”
The label “sanctuary” is generally applied to regions that restrict their local agencies from fully assisting federal immigration enforcement.
While Jolly has stated he would not mandate statewide 287(g) agreements—which compel local police to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement—he leaves the decision up to individual local governments.
Speaking with Spectrum News in February, Jolly suggested that police collaboration with ICE ought to be paused while agents wear masks and until proper due process protections are guaranteed for everyone. Data shows that roughly 347 state and local departments across Florida participate in these arrangements, representing the highest total nationwide.
Furthermore, Jolly has argued that local law enforcement should prioritize community policing instead of participating in large-scale immigration sweeps. His official campaign platform advocates for establishing pathways to legal residency and work authorization for long-term undocumented residents currently living in the country.
Donalds: “Ten years ago (Jolly) said that he wanted to see the end of Roe v. Wade, as a Republican. But today as a Democrat, he says he wants to bring Roe v. Wade back.”
This claim is accurate, and Jolly has openly acknowledged his change in stance.
Jolly originally held office in the U.S. House as a Republican from 2014 to 2017, later transitioned to independent status, and officially registered as a Democrat in 2025.
During his tenure as a GOP lawmaker, he opposed abortion rights and supported anti-abortion legislation. Today, he backs the reinstatement of Roe v. Wade, aiming to enshrine federal protections safeguarding abortion access up until fetal viability—the developmental stage where a fetus can survive outside the womb. Following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe, Florida enacted a strict six-week abortion restriction.
Addressing the shift, Jolly explained that his perspective has shifted over time, noting that he previously allowed personal religious beliefs to dictate his political positions while in Congress.
Moody: Nixon “signs up to defund the police, kneecap our military, abolish prisons, let noncitizens vote, do away with our borders.”
This description is misleading.
Moody’s comments stem from Nixon’s association with the Democratic Socialists of America, which functions as an advocacy group rather than a formal political party. Notably, the organization has not provided an endorsement for Nixon’s campaign.
Although Moody’s critique reflects elements of the DSA’s broader platform, Nixon has clarified that she does not subscribe to every objective held by the group.
“I don’t fully align with anybody’s full platform 100%, not even the Democratic Party,” Nixon remarked to WLRN.
Representatives for Nixon’s campaign emphasized that she supports community safety initiatives, tackling the underlying drivers of crime, and maintaining border security while simultaneously creating clear pathways for legal citizenship and reforming immigration enforcement systems.
Furthermore, Nixon has clarified that she does not advocate for shutting down all correctional facilities, though she does push to eliminate private, for-profit prisons.
Regarding foreign policy, Nixon has expressed opposition to military conflict with Iran, promoted diplomatic solutions to international disputes, and called for increased legislative oversight regarding defense spending.
Her campaign also noted that she “supports the right of every eligible American citizen to vote,” explicitly rejecting the idea of extending voting rights to noncitizens.
Donalds: When Jolly was a Republican, he “said that he was a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. But now as a Democrat, he’s somebody who rants and raves about ‘who cares about the Second Amendment.’”
Donalds’ observation regarding Jolly’s evolving stance on gun regulations is accurate, with the quoted remarks following a major shooting incident in Maine several years ago.
During his federal legislative career, Jolly consistently voted alongside his party on legislation protecting gun ownership rights.
Since stepping away from the Republican party, Jolly has openly criticized conservative firearm policies, even while maintaining that he still supports the Second Amendment.
The phrase “who cares about the Second Amendment” referenced by Donalds comes from an appearance on MSNBC in October 2023, where Jolly critiqued American gun culture. During the segment, he stated, “You can say I don’t agree with the Second Amendment. Maybe I don’t, I don’t care,” before adding, “We have to crush the culture of guns in the United States.”
That television interview aired shortly after a devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, where a gunman took the lives of 18 people at a local restaurant and bowling alley.
For his 2026 gubernatorial bid, Jolly’s platform advocates for tighter firearm controls, such as prohibiting new assault weapon sales, implementing universal background checks, and enhancing mandates for safe gun storage and safety training.
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