David Jolly visits FAMU, courts Black voters in Tallahassee ahead of Nov. 3

David Jolly visited Florida A&M University on Oct. 12, 2026, for a student-led town hall in Tallahassee as he sought to court Black voters ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

At the nearly two-hour event, Jolly answered students’ questions about trust and representation and outlined policy priorities, including restoring academic freedom and expanding diversity initiatives at public universities.

WCTV reported Jolly said he would “aggressively” use executive authority to fund local government diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and he vowed to push for FAMU to receive funding supporters say the university was denied for decades.

A dimly lit auditorium stage with an empty lectern and rows of chairs, a folded campaign flyer on a seat in the foreground suggesting a recent event

The Tallahassee Democrat and Yahoo coverage noted a tense moment when a student asked how Black voters could trust a former Republican. Jolly responded by arguing his party change reflected principle, and he contrasted himself with his Republican opponent.

WCTV also reported that Jolly said he would suspend Florida’s participation in expanded 287(g) immigration-enforcement agreements and described efforts to suspend political advertising during Hurricane Isaias relief work.

A line of anonymous students waiting outside a university lecture hall, some holding notebooks and phones, campus buildings visible behind them

Jolly’s appearance completed FAMU’s gubernatorial town-hall series ahead of Nov. 3 and followed a visit to the campus earlier by his campaign allies. The event was part of a broader push to win undecided Black voters that campaign statements and local reporting say could determine the race.

The candidate reiterated support for Medicaid expansion and said he would remove Florida’s surgeon general from office and impose limits on new hyperscale data centers, according to the Tallahassee Democrat report.

For further reading on Jolly’s platform, the campaign’s prior statement outlines his education priorities and past comments about FAMU’s status.

Internal coverage on this site previously summarized Jolly’s agenda and centrist pitch during the governor race.

Sources

Tallahassee Democrat — reported on Jolly’s Oct. 12 town hall at FAMU, student questions, and his policy pledges.
WCTV — described Jolly’s remarks on DEI funding, suspension of 287(g) agreements, and that the town hall completed FAMU’s gubernatorial series.
Eciks — internal link summarizing Jolly’s agenda and centrist coalition pitch.