Florida gubernatorial rivals hold final rallies in Polk County before Tuesday's vote

Republican nominee Byron Donalds and Democratic challenger David Jolly concluded their statewide campaigns on Monday with a series of rallies across Florida. Both candidates focused their efforts on Polk County, a region that has emerged as a critical battleground in the race for the governor's mansion.

Donalds kicked off his final day of campaigning with a stop in Tarpon Springs before traveling to Polk County. At noon, he joined forces with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Moody. The Republican candidate finished his Monday itinerary in Sarasota. Meanwhile, Jolly and his running mate, Gwen Graham, visited Haines City in the morning before heading to Brevard County. Their tour continued into the evening with rallies in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

The political stakes in Polk County are high as voter turnout remains nearly deadlocked. Although Republicans hold a registered voter advantage of approximately 50,000 in the area and won the county by nearly 30 points in 2022, current polling indicates a close race. This development comes one week after Governor Ron DeSantis warned that Republican turnout was lagging behind historical norms.

During a campaign stop at a church in Haines City, Jolly highlighted the disparity in early voting participation. He noted that 49% of Democratic voters had already cast ballots, compared to 38% of Republicans. Despite a statewide advantage of 2.4 points in the overall electorate, Jolly argued that Republicans were underperforming by a margin of 11 points. He expressed confidence that voters with no party affiliation were leaning toward his campaign.

Jolly urged his supporters to remain engaged in the final hours of the campaign. He stated that the election would be decided by voter participation and expressed encouragement over crossover votes from Republicans and independent voters. He emphasized the need to reach every possible voter before the polls close on Tuesday night.

Donalds addressed crowds with a message of confidence and continuity. He asked the audience if they were prepared to ensure Florida remained the best state in America and to continue defeating the Democratic Party. He framed the election as a choice to maintain the policies that have distinguished Florida from other states.

In remarks made over the weekend, Donalds predicted a strong turnout for Republicans on Election Day. He pledged to win the race and become the next governor, arguing that frustrations with the state should not lead to handing control to the Democratic Party, which he claimed has struggled to manage other states effectively.

Donalds outlined his policy priorities, including lowering construction and insurance costs, building necessary roads, and protecting aquifers and agricultural lands. He described these efforts as the key to keeping Florida an exception among the other 49 states.

Jolly, speaking in South Florida on Sunday, appealed to voters' sense of duty to future generations. He urged them to come together not just to win an election, but to effect lasting change. He also discussed his economic philosophy, asserting that policies must flow from core values, with the primary value being that the economy should work for everyone.

Voters who did not participate in early voting must cast their ballots in person on Tuesday. Polling locations across the state will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time. Every voter is required to present a valid form of photo and signature identification at the check-in table. Republicans are counting on a significant final-day turnout, while recent polls show both candidates within the margin of error. Jolly will host his election night party in Tampa, while Donalds will hold his in Fort Lauderdale.