Donalds Escalates Attack on Jolly Over Trans Youth Care and Sports as Florida Governor Race Heats Up

Rep. Byron Donalds, the leading Republican candidate in Florida's GOP primary, has made opposition to transgender rights—especially policies affecting youth medical care and participation in female sports—a central theme of his gubernatorial campaign. At recent rallies he repeatedly targeted Democrat David Jolly for what Donalds described as an overly permissive stance on those issues.

Rally Remarks and Allies

At a campaign event ahead of the primary, Donalds said of Jolly, "David Jolly is somebody who thinks it's still okay for boys to be in girl sports," repeating the charge for emphasis. He also praised public figures who oppose transgender participation in women’s athletics, including Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, quoted in an ESPN profile saying she wants to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men," and activist Riley Gaines, who rose to prominence after a high-profile college swimming matchup.

Jolly's Position: Nuance Over Bans

David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who has since aligned with Democratic positions on social issues, has rejected blanket approaches. Speaking to NPR affiliate WLRN, Jolly said he does not think athletes assigned male at birth should compete in categories designated for female athletes, while also warning against broad government mandates on local leagues or young children’s community sports. "If a 10- or 12-year-old soccer league in the community has a coed team, I don't think the governor should be throwing a flag on the field," Jolly said.

Jolly has also defended parents' rights to make medical decisions for their children, including where gender-affirming care is concerned—a stance that helped secure an endorsement from Equality Florida Action PAC.

Medical Guidance and International Context

Donalds has invoked the American Medical Association and European policy shifts to argue that gender-affirming care for minors is broadly discredited. His comments appear to draw on reporting that suggested the AMA had revised guidance with support for new restrictions. After that reporting, however, the AMA emphasized to media outlets that it still supports decisions made by families, caregivers and medical professionals when gender-affirming care is deemed medically necessary.

Similarly, U.S. politicians often point to policy changes in some European nations to support claims that transgender health care is being curtailed. While the United Kingdom has tightened certain protocols for minors in recent years, other countries and medical bodies—such as Germany's Association of the Scientific Medical Societies—have reaffirmed support for access to gender-affirming care for young people.

Political Framing

Donalds framed his stance as "common sense" rather than part of a "culture war," and circulated a podcast clip arguing that Jolly is "not a cultural fit for our state," citing Jolly's approach to sports policy as a primary reason. The exchange highlights how transgender rights, youth medical care and sports participation have become flashpoints in the Florida governor's contest, with each candidate seeking to appeal to different constituencies.

Key context: The debate over transgender youth care and sports participation combines medical, legal and cultural questions. Candidates on both sides are using the issue to draw distinctions on parental rights, the role of government, and protections for women’s sports.

This article originally appeared in Advocate and has been edited for clarity and context.