Florida Democrats hold gala and campaign events ahead of primary

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly held a meet-and-greet in The Villages, where he addressed more than 300 attendees regarding his platform on economic affordability, property insurance, and education reform. Jolly, a former Republican congressman, emphasized bipartisan appeal ahead of the August 18 primary.

Separately, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party held its annual Kennedy-King Gala despite the last-minute cancellation of keynote speaker Michael Blake. The former New York State assemblyman withdrew following backlash over past criticisms of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Israeli government. Blake had previously criticized incumbent Representative Ritchie Torres regarding his ties to the lobbying group.