Evelyn Castillo-Bach Not Endorsing Jolly
Evelyn seated with the American flag and Florida flag behind her,
Evelyn Castillo-Bach, a long-time independent voter who ran as a Democrat, will not endorse Jolly, citing undemocratic practices by the Florida Democratic Party
Democratic Party leadership engaged in an undemocratic process. Decided who the nominee should be a year before the primary started. A year before voters had a chance to hear from 5 other candidates.”
PEMBROKE PINES, FL, UNITED STATES, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Evelyn Castillo-Bach, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate listed on the August 18 primary ballot, announced today she will not endorse the nominee David Jolly in the upcoming November election. — Evelyn Castillo-Bach
An article in Florida Politics published on August 5, 2025 shows 60 endorsements for Jolly originating from former and current elected officials throughout Florida nearly a year before the election.
"As a Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, I can confirm that the Florida Democratic Party did not organize a debate, stated Castillo-Bach. "This meant that I nor any of the other four candidates on the ballot were given the opportunity to debate and show voters our vision or ideas for Florida's future, or our plans for fixing the problems we face as Floridians." Fellow Democratic primary candidate Dayna Foster has also noted the absence of debates on her campaign website.
According to public records from the Florida Division of Elections, the following events occurred:
- April 23, 2025: David Jolly registers as a Democrat.
- June 4, 2025: Jolly files to run for governor.
- August 5, 2025: The Florida Democratic Party rolls out 60 endorsements for Jolly from Democratic elected officials across the state.
- August 6, 2025: Dayna Foster files to run.
- October 31, 2025: Jerry Demings files to run (withdrew June 5, 2026, due to prostate cancer).
-December 2, 2025: Evelyn Castillo-Bach files to run.
- December 5, 2025: Thomas Eloy Fernandez files to run.
- March 24, 2026: Kenneth Stephann Norman files to run.
- June 11, 2026: Dotie Joseph files to run (following Demings' withdrawal).
- June 8–12, 2026: Qualifying period.
Castillo-Bach confirmed Jolly did not attend three community forums organized by Black leaders during the primary. "I attended all three forums. Jolly was not present. Furthermore, on June 17, 2026, I issued a public statement, in a press release and on video, inviting Jolly to a public conversation on an exchange of ideas, live-streamed. My invitation was not acknowledged.
Citing campaign finance reports, Castillo-Bach said Jolly's campaign reported approximately $6.4 million in contributions and spent more than $8 per vote received, while her campaign reported $6,455 and spent less than 7 cents per vote.
During her campaign, Castillo-Bach promoted proposals including a living wage benchmarked to United Way ALICE data, a Florida direct care program for uninsured and underinsured residents, property insurance reform focused on insurance affiliates, ban on Non-Disclosure Agreements linked to hyperscale data centers, complimentary meals for public school students, a state tenant rental voucher program, protection of the Everglades, farm land, water, and protecting children, seniors, and pensions.
She also campaigned on criminal justice reform, including a $40/hr living wage to start and higher for experience and rank for correctional officers, independent oversight of the Florida Department of Corrections, inmate rehabilitation, transferring incarcerated veterans to veterans' hospitals and replacing sentencing length from 85% to 50% for incarcerated persons with a release date, retroactively.
Castillo-Bach encourages eligible Floridians to register and participate in the November election, saying, "I will continue to advocate for the ordinary people of Florida: Health, Home, Freedom."
In the August 18th Democratic gubernatorial primary, Castillo-Bach finished fourth, behind David Jolly, Dayna Foster, and Dotie Joseph, and ahead of Thomas Eloy Fernandez and Kenneth Stephann Norman.
About Evelyn Castillo-Bach:
She is a long-time Independent voter who ran as a Democrat for Governor of Florida in 2026. Her campaign is built on the motto "People First, Not Politics" and three pillars: Health, Home, and Freedom. She serves as Executive Director of Balanced Justice Network, a criminal justice reform organization.
Evelyn Castillo-Bach Campaign For Governor of Florida 2026
Evelyn Castillo-Bach Campaign for Governor of Florida 2026
info@evelynforgovernor.org
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