David Jolly

David Jolly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 11, 2014
Preceded by Bill Young
Personal details
Born October 31, 1972
Dunedin, Florida, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Carrie Jolly (1999–2014; divorced)
Alma mater Emory University
George Mason University
Website Official website

David Wilson Jolly (born October 31, 1972) is an American attorney, former lobbyist and the U.S. Representative for Florida's 13th congressional district. A Republican, he previously served as general counsel to his predecessor, U.S. Rep. Bill Young.[1] He won the race for Young's seat as the Republican candidate in a 2014 special election against Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby.[2]

Early life, education and career

Jolly was born in Dunedin, Florida.[3] He received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Emory University and a juris doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law. He worked for U.S. Rep. Young as an adviser and General Counsel until 2007.

In 2007, Jolly began work as a lobbyist with Washington, D.C. firm Van Scoyoc Associates. Eventually, he opened his own firm, Three Bridges Advisors in 2011, and contributed political donations to both Republicans and Democrats during his time as a lobbyist.[4] Jolly officially had his name removed from the Lobby Registry to run for the vacant House seat.[5]

Jolly lives in Indian Shores, Florida.[3] His divorce from his wife Carrie was finalized on January 16, 2014.[6]

Political positions

Jolly opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare", and says he has goals of lowering taxes and cutting spending. He believes Israel is one of the premier allies of the United States and has a goal of not cutting the United States commitment to the military and to its allies. He is pro-life, says that he "support[s] the constitutional right to keep and bear arms", and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. He supports the Balanced Budget Amendment,[7] and says he would have voted to raise the debt limit in early 2014.[8]

On July 21, 2014, Jolly announced his support for same-sex marriage, stating that he believes that according to the Constitution that it is "fully appropriate" for a state to recognize both same-sex marriages and "traditional" ones. Although he believes in the Biblical definition of marriage of one man and one woman.[9]

Tenure

Committee assignments

Elections

2014 special election

On January 14, 2014, Jolly won the Republican nomination over Mark Bircher and Kathleen Peters.[10] After Jolly won the Republican nomination, the National Republican Congressional Committee spent nearly $500,000 on advertising on his behalf.[11] However, there was friction between the national committee and Jolly, who criticized the advertising. Jolly downplayed the differences, stating that he and the Republican Party stood for the same things.[11]

Ultimately, Jolly defeated Democratic nominee Alex Sink on March 11, 2014 and was sworn in on March 13.[12]

2014 general election

Jolly ran for reelection to his first full term in November of 2014. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and no Democrat ran against him in the general election; his only challenger was Lucas Overby, the Libertarian nominee who came in third in the special election one year prior. Jolly easily defeated Overby with 75% of the vote.

Electoral history

Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Jolly 20,435 44.60
Republican Kathleen Peters 14,172 30.94
Republican Mark Bircher 11,203 24.46
Total votes 45,810 100
Florida's 13th Congressional District special election, 2014 [13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Jolly 89,099 48.43
Democratic Alex Sink 85,642 46.55
Libertarian Lucas Overby 8,893 4.83
N/A Write-ins 328 0.18
Total votes 183,962 100
Republican hold
Florida's 13th Congressional District election, 2014[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Jolly 168,172 75.22
Libertarian Lucas Overby 55,318 24.74
Write-in Michael Stephen Levinson 86 .04
Total votes 223,576 100.00
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ "Rick Baker won't run for Young's seat, but David Jolly will". Tampa Bay Times. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ Bradshaw, Kate (March 11, 2014). "David Jolly takes District 13 election". St. Petersburg Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 David Jolly for Congress website
  4. ↑ "David Jolly gave 'almost $30,000 to keep Democrats in Congress' as a lobbyist, Kathleen Peters says". PolitiFact. Tampa Bay Times. December 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ Tau, Byron (November 15, 2013). "GOP candidate's Democratic giving past". Politico.
  6. ↑ Krueger, Curtis (January 9, 2014). "Congressional candidate David Jolly's girlfriend once named one of Washington's most beautiful people". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Issues, davidjolly.com; accessed November 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ Smith, Adam C. (March 3, 2014). "David Jolly campaigns as a C.W. Bill Young Republican, but which one?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ Rep. Dave Jolly (R-FL) supports gay marriage, washingtonpost.com, July 21, 2014; accessed November 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Florida - Summary Vote Results: U.S. House - District 13 - GOP Primary". Associated Press. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Isenstadt, Alex (March 7, 2014). "National GOP turns on Florida candidate". Politico.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  12. ↑ Cassata, Donna (March 13, 2014). "Florida's Jolly Sworn in as Newest Congressman". Associated Press. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ Pinellas - Election Results
  14. ↑ "November 4, 2014 General Election Official Results". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2015.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bill Young		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 13th congressional district
2014–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Bradley Byrne
R-Alabama 		United States Representatives by seniority
370th 		Succeeded by
Curt Clawson
R-Florida