David Jolly Rally Draws Polk County Democratic Candidates on the Eve of Election in Haines City
Haines City commissioners, including Mayor Vernel Smith, Vice Mayor Kim Downing, and Commissioners Lekia Johnson and Morris West, spoke at a Democratic rally during one of David Jolly’s final stops before Election Day. The rally was hosted at Parkview Christian Life Center in Haines City. Weather delayed the event by an hour, and about 200 people attended.
In addition to those who spoke to the crowd, leaders acknowledged other officials and candidates in the audience, including Davenport Mayor Donna Fellows-Coffey, Deva Simmons, who is an NPA candidate running for US House District 48, and Bobby Williams, who came in fourth in the race for governor on the Republican primary ticket, and Kelly Quinn, a Republican who ran and lost against incumbent Rick Wilson for Polk County Commissioner. Both Williams and Quinn have publicly endorsed Jolly.
Jolly, the Democratic nominee for governor, and running mate Gwen Graham, the nominee for lieutenant governor, spoke as part of their Believe in Better tour. He is running against Republican nominee Byron Donalds.
Jolly told the crowd that a coalition forming across Florida is “bigger than any one party.” He said he spent most of his life as a Republican, served in Congress as one and later found a home in the Democratic Party, and that voters who are not ready to join the party are still welcome in the coalition. He said his platform comes down to housing, health care and education, and added, “We’re going to win this race.”
Graham, a former congresswoman and the daughter of the late Gov. Bob Graham, said Republicans hold supermajorities in the state House and Senate and control the governor’s office, yet “they can’t get things done for the people of Florida.” She said voters she meets tell her they have already voted, recounting an elevator conversation in which people told her, “We’ve already voted for you.”
Donalds held his own Polk County rally in Lakeland later in the day. Last month, Vice President JD Vance gave the keynote address after Donalds and his running mate, Bryan Avila, spoke at a Republican midterm rally in a packed air hangar at Sun ‘N Fun in Lakeland, with roughly 200 spectators watching on overflow screens outside.
Curtis Gibson, the Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 18, told a crowd in Haines City on Monday that one of his first priorities in office is to “Get rid of ICE” (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). He was one of several Polk County Democratic candidates who spoke at the event. Gibson, a former two-term Lake Wales city commissioner, faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, a Republican, and no-party candidate Deva Simmons, who attended the rally but did not speak. He pointed to his time on the Lake Wales commission, saying he worked with Republicans, Democrats and independents to lower taxes and fix roads. He also said, “Not all Republicans are bad,” and urged supporters who had not voted to turn out Tuesday.
Alethea Pugh, a former Dundee commissioner, is the Democratic nominee for Florida House District 48 and is challenging Rep. Jon Albert, a Republican. Pugh said decisions made in Tallahassee affect public schools, water resources, and household bills, and that she wants public dollars to stay in public classrooms. She also warned that continued farmland overdevelopment puts Polk County’s lakes and water at risk, and asked the crowd who was concerned about property taxes and Social Security.
Robert Anzalone is the Democrats’ nominee in Florida House District 49, where he faces Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, a Republican. Anzalone said about 140,000 Polk County voters had already cast ballots and urged supporters to talk with friends, family, and neighbors across party lines and help others get to the polls.
Victor Sims, who is running against incumbent Kate Wallace for the Polk County School Board District 3 seat, also campaigned at the event. School board races are nonpartisan, and all registered voters can vote regardless of party. Sims started off by saying, “When I found out the campaign was coming through, I couldn’t have done worse, because one of my first campaign events was in the church. Seems like my last campaign event is in the church.” During his speech, he acknowledged Bobby Williams, an Eagle Lake resident who ran in the Republican primary for Florida governor.
Polls are open until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Mail ballots must reach the Polk County Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Early voting ended Oct. 31.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time do polls open and close in Polk County on Election Day?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Polk County Supervisor of Elections.
What is the deadline to return a mail ballot in Polk County?
Voted mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. They can be returned to Election Headquarters in Bartow or the Election Operations Center in Winter Haven.
Who is on the ballot for U.S. House District 18?
Incumbent Republican Scott Franklin, Democrat Curtis Gibson, and no-party candidate Deva Simmons.
Who is running for Florida House District 48?
Republican Jon Albert and Democrat Alethea Pugh.
Who is running for Florida House District 49?
Republican Jennifer Kincart Jonsson and Democrat Robert Anzalone.
The Citrus Tea News does not endorse candidates and reports on all races without partisan preference. We accept paid political advertising, which is clearly labeled and offered to every candidate in a race at the same rates. Advertising has no influence on our coverage.
Sources: “Polk County School Board 2026: The Candidates Respond,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, July 7, 2026; “Sims and Wallace Face Off at Kiwanis Club of Lakeland Forum,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, Oct. 17, 2026; “‘A Jolly Florida’: Jolly Announces Gwen Graham as Gubernatorial Running Mate,” David Jolly for Governor, davidjolly.com, undated; “Byron Donalds and David Jolly Win Florida Governor Primaries,” Ask Flagler, askflagler.com, Aug. 19, 2026; “2026 General Election,” Polk County Supervisor of Elections, polkelections.gov, undated; “Curtis Gibson,” Ballotpedia, ballotpedia.org, undated; “Curtis Gibson Not Seeking Re-election to City Commission,” Lake Wales News, lakewalesnews.net, Jan. 27, 2021; “Alethea Pugh Candidate Profile,” BallotReady, ballotready.org, undated; “Florida State Rep., Dist. 48 2026 General Election,” iVoterGuide, ivoterguide.com, undated; “Florida State Rep., Dist. 49 2026 General Election,” iVoterGuide, ivoterguide.com, undated; “Florida House of Representatives District 49,” Ballotpedia, ballotpedia.org, undated; “Polk Primary Election Results,” Four Corners News-Sun, midfloridanewspapers.com, undated; “Board Members,” Polk County Public Schools, polkschoolsfl.com, undated
