Evelyn Castillo-Bach says she will not back Jolly in Florida governor's race

Evelyn Castillo-Bach, who ran in Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, said she will not endorse nominee David Jolly after accusing the Florida Democratic Party of blocking debates and limiting candidate visibility. She also pointed to campaign finance gaps, forum attendance and policy differences as the November race approaches.

Why it matters: - Castillo-Bach's decision underscores intraparty friction in Florida's governor's race and keeps attention on how Democrats chose their nominee. - The dispute highlights concerns about candidate access, debate participation and party-endorsed momentum before the November election. - Castillo-Bach is urging eligible Floridians to register and vote, framing the race around her message of "Health, Home, Freedom."

What happened: - Evelyn Castillo-Bach said she will not endorse David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for governor, after finishing fourth in the August 18 Democratic primary. - Castillo-Bach said the Florida Democratic Party did not organize a debate for the primary field. - Castillo-Bach said that left her and the other four candidates on the ballot without a chance to present their ideas directly to voters. - Castillo-Bach said Dayna Foster also noted the absence of debates on her campaign website. - Castillo-Bach said Jolly did not attend three community forums organized by Black leaders during the primary. - Castillo-Bach said she invited Jolly to a public, live-streamed conversation on June 17, 2026, and did not receive a response.

The details: - Public records from the Florida Division of Elections show Jolly registered as a Democrat on April 23, 2025. - Public records show Jolly filed to run for governor on June 4, 2025. - The Florida Democratic Party rolled out 60 endorsements for Jolly on August 5, 2025, from Democratic elected officials across the state. - Dayna Foster filed to run on August 6, 2025. - Jerry Demings filed to run on October 31, 2025, and later withdrew on June 5, 2026, because of prostate cancer. - Castillo-Bach filed to run on December 2, 2025. - Thomas Eloy Fernandez filed to run on December 5, 2025. - Kenneth Stephann Norman filed to run on March 24, 2026. - Dotie Joseph filed to run on June 11, 2026, after Demings withdrew. - The qualifying period ran from June 8-12, 2026. - Castillo-Bach said Jolly's campaign reported about $6.4 million in contributions and spent more than $8 per vote received. - Castillo-Bach said her campaign reported $6,455 in contributions and spent less than 7 cents per vote. - In the August 18 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Jolly finished first, followed by Dayna Foster and Dotie Joseph. - Castillo-Bach finished fourth, ahead of Thomas Eloy Fernandez and Kenneth Stephann Norman. - Castillo-Bach's campaign centered on a living wage benchmarked to United Way ALICE data, a Florida direct care program for uninsured and underinsured residents, property insurance reform focused on affiliates, a ban on nondisclosure agreements tied to hyperscale data centers, free meals for public school students and a state tenant rental voucher program. - Castillo-Bach also campaigned on protecting the Everglades, farmland, water, children, seniors and pensions. - Her criminal justice platform called for a $40-an-hour starting wage for correctional officers, higher pay based on experience and rank, independent oversight of the Florida Department of Corrections, inmate rehabilitation, moving incarcerated veterans to veterans' hospitals and reducing the sentencing requirement from 85% to 50% retroactively for people with a release date.

Between the lines: - Castillo-Bach is casting the endorsement decision as a protest against party process, not just a personal disagreement with Jolly. - Her campaign finance comparison is meant to sharpen the contrast between a low-budget, grassroots operation and Jolly's far better-funded campaign. - The lack of debates and public forums suggests a primary shaped more by party infrastructure and endorsements than by direct candidate-to-voter competition.

What's next: - Castillo-Bach said she will keep advocating for Florida voters ahead of November. - The governor's race now moves into the general election with Jolly as the Democratic nominee and Castillo-Bach outside the endorsement coalition. - Castillo-Bach is encouraging eligible Floridians to register and participate in the November election.

The bottom line: - Castillo-Bach's refusal to back Jolly turns a primary aftermath into a broader critique of how Florida Democrats selected their nominee.