After Florida redistricting, here's what Democratic candidates for governor said

The news of the week weighed heavily on Thursday evening in a Democratic gubernatorial town hall hosted by the Diverse Coalition for Democracy.

The day before, the Florida Legislature passed a new congressional map that could flip four seats toward Republicans, making three of them whiter.

And the Supreme Court limited when states can use race in redistricting, even when trying to comply with the Voting Rights Act's prohibition against racial discrimination. That ruling could allow states to erase majority-minority districts across the South.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, one of two leading candidates in the Democratic race for governor, told an audience of about 300 on Zoom that he's worried about his children's and grandchildren's right to vote.

"I'm concerned about the world that we are making for them, what we are doing for them," he said.

Former GOP Rep. David Jolly, the other leading candidate, pushed for independent redistricting commissions in Florida and beyond. Voters in two Democratic states, Virginia and California, have approved redistricting maps that favor Democrats in an effort to combat GOP gains.

"We can't lose the greater theme here, which is that for voters of color, we just saw a great attack on their franchise and their suffrage, and we have to recognize the moral responsibility," Jolly said.

Here's what else Jolly and Demings talked about during the event:

Can Democrats actually win statewide in Florida?

Jolly repeated a line he says often: "If the election were tonight, we'd win."

Democrats face plenty of roadblocks in their bid to flip the governorship blue for the first time in three decades.

Republicans lead Democrats in active registered voters by more than 1.5 million, a gap that has grown each year since 2021, when Republican registration began to outpace that of Democrats.

Both Jolly, who raised almost $5 million as of March 31, and Demings, who raised $650,000, trail far behind the GOP front-runner, Rep. Byron Donalds, who has a nearly $70 million war chest.

But two surprise special election victories in March buoyed Democratic hopes that Florida's Republicans and independents could swing sharply left this year.

"We are trying to register Democrats. Understand, we're winning races without registering more Democrats right now," Jolly said. "We just have more voters willing to give us their trust."

Demings agreed that he's optimistic a Democrat could win the governorship in November.

Demings said he's focused on what he can control, "which is how much effort I put in."

"I cannot control the outcome," he said. "It has been 32 years since we elected a Democratic governor, and it's high time, because we're out of balance."

Addressing gun violence

Both candidates outlined their plans for gun control. Attorney General James Uthmeier declared that open carry is "the law of the state" last year after an appeals court ruled Florida's open carry ban was unconstitutional.

Jolly said he would challenge that ruling if elected governor.

Both candidates advocated for universal background checks before the purchase of firearms and argued gun owners should be subject to more requirements, including training.

Demings drew on his background as a law enforcement officer to explain why.

"I'm required to annually train with my gun and to pass a firearms test," he said. "But yet, here in the free state of Florida, we have individuals who can (carry guns) ... without having to qualify or prove that they have any training that they know how to use that gun."

Demings added that investing in mental health treatment could help deter gun violence. He noted that Florida's mental healthcare spending per capita is lower than most other states, and said he wants to change that.

Jolly called for an insurance system for gun owners. Such a system, he argued, could make gun ownership cost-prohibitive for those with "inclinations towards irresponsible use of firearms."

A lively comments section

During public forums held on Zoom, the comment section is often disabled.

Not during this event, where dozens of Democrats from across the state chimed in with where they're from.

There was also infighting.

Attendees complained that Jolly was given more time to speak than Demings. Jolly ended up speaking for about 28 minutes, compared to Demings' 22 minutes.

Others complained about a "special guest" who was invited that evening, former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova. Navratilova has argued against including transgender athletes in women's sports.

"She is not an advocate for diversity if she is unaccepting of the T in LGBT!" wrote attendee Atheena Wilson.

Another attendee, Catherine Hamilton, replied, "Grow up and stop disrespecting our guest!"

Navratilova ended the night by calling for an end to Democratic infighting.

"You do not have to pass the litmus test on 100% of the issues; 80% of the issues is good enough," she said. "I'm 99% on the issues with the Democratic Party, but we are just so tough on our candidates."

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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 5:38 PM.