Nobody Is Coming to Save Broward: Broward Can Save Florida.

Anika T. Omphroy

A Browardite’s look at who we should hire for CEO? I mean, Governor. 1 in 10 Florida registered voters lives in Broward County, approximately 10% of the decision makers who will determine who our next governor will be. Applications are in, and Florida’s top picks are Donalds and Jolly. The word Governor means “to steer.” Florida’s Governor is the Chief Executive responsible for carrying out the state’s laws, overseeing the executive branch, and steering the state.

The Big 3, the Branches of Government: The Executive Branch (Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture) is elected, the Legislative Branch (Senate (40) and House (120)) is elected, and the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court (7)) is appointed by the Governor and voted on for merit retention by voters. The Supreme Court has the sole responsibility of interpreting Florida’s laws and managing the judicial branch. The Legislative Branch creates bills, passes laws, and appropriates funding; the Governor administers those laws and carries out the spending of the $117 billion budget within legal limits.

What does a governor do? The Governor’s job is enforcing laws, overseeing state government, planning and budgeting, and acting on passed bills: signing or vetoing bills and/or appropriations (spending). Recommending policies: reporting on the state’s condition and recommending action to the Legislature. The Governor appoints judicial and government leadership when there are vacancies under constitutional and statutory requirements. The Governor can temporarily remove an elected governmental official; this removal must be approved by the Senate. Leading during emergencies: exercising legally authorized emergency powers and commanding state military forces when they are not in federal service.

On January 8, 2019, as a member of the Florida Legislature, I attended Governor DeSantis’ swearing in. In his speech, he spoke of removing Broward’s elected Sheriff. Three days later, on January 11, 2019, Governor DeSantis removed Broward’s Sheriff Israel, and then he appointed Gregory Tony Sheriff of Broward County. In November of 2021, he filled two vacancies on the Broward County Commission when Commissioners Barbara Sharief and Dale Holness resigned to run for Congress. He appointed Torey Alston and Jared Moskowitz to those seats. These are some of the Governor’s Chief Executive powers.

Who hires the governor? Florida voters directly choose who governs their state. They decide public policy through ballot amendments and hold elected officials accountable.

Which one will Florida voters choose to steer us through this economic storm? Donalds or Jolly? Which one can steer us out of the lack of attainable housing, affordable food, affordable insurance, and access to health care into economic stability? In order to succeed, the Governor needs to be able to communicate and gain support for the laws they want passed to create stability for Floridians.

In this corner, the winner of the Republican Nomination for Governor: Byron Lowell Donalds, age 48. He’s a Scorpio, born on October 28, 1978, in New York City, New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. Divorced. Currently married to Erika Donalds. 3 children. Years of Elected Service: November 2016 to current, a total of 9 years and 9 months. Originally registered as a Democrat in April 2003, Donalds switched his party affiliation to Republican in March 2010.

In this corner, the winner of the Democratic Nomination for Governor: David Wilson Jolly, age 53. He’s a Scorpio, born on October 31, 1972, in Dunedin, Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and a Juris Doctorate (JD) (law). Divorced. Currently married to Laura Jolly. 2 children. Years of Elected Service: March 11, 2014, to January 3, 2017, a total of 2 years and 10 months. Originally a Republican, Jolly became an independent in 2018, helped establish the Forward Party in 2022, and registered as a Democrat in April 2025.

Round One: On health care, how did they vote?

U.S. Representative David Jolly, in 2015, voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, in 2025, voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut spending on Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, food stamps, and other programs to help pay for extending tax cuts.

Donalds wants price transparency and a best price guarantee, ensuring that cash payers get the same rates as major insurance companies. If you need an out of network medical doctor, the cost paid for out of network care would go toward your yearly insurance deductible. This expansion will take the support of a simple majority of the state legislature to pass. With his party holding the majority in the House, 83/120 seats, and Senate, 26/40 seats, he would enter with that advantage. His former colleagues are current Senate President Albritton, President Pro Tempore Brodeur, Senate Majority Leader Boyd, and Senator Burton, Chair of Health Policy. In the legislature, familiarity is the difference between a closed door and an open one. Unless this election cycle sees major Democratic wins in the House, like in 2018.

Donalds’ plan doesn’t address access to medical professionals in the 67 counties and the time it takes to get care because of the lack of primary care doctors. It has been reported that 66 of our 67 counties lack providers in a portion of the county. No expansion of Medicaid in Donalds’ plan. We currently have some price transparency pricing in Florida.

Jolly’s plan is to expand Medicaid. Open direct primary care facilities over a 5 year pilot to make health care accessible in the 67 counties. In 2026, the Florida Senate voted against an amendment to expand Medicaid. Jolly will have to do major public outreach to voters to get their support to move the legislature. Or he may have to go the route of supporting a 2028 Florida voters’ ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. With the current composition of the legislature, I believe he will get support for the primary care facilities pilot. His promise of a Medicaid expansion plan is carefully premised on the legislature passing it.

Round 2: What is their plan to make housing affordable?

Broward County is in the second priciest metropolitan area in America. In 2024, we became pricier to live in than New York City and Los Angeles. The American Dream of home ownership and watching your children and grandchildren become homeowners is on the ballot. Society’s baseline is Food, Water, Shelter, and Rest.

Donalds addresses issues that current homeowners have. Grants for home hardening and upgrades that may lower the cost of insurance. Donalds also addresses issues that occur after a storm, mapping out a plan to shorten permits to speed up the rebuilding of storm affected areas. Donalds’ issues page has no mention of affordability for new home ownership and attainable housing for renters.

Jolly’s plan includes scaling up affordable and workforce housing construction. Down payment assistance for first time home buyers. Building more affordable rental units and helping condo owners cover special assessments through a no interest state backed loan program. Creating a statewide catastrophic insurance fund. Jolly addresses monthly electric bills by capping utility company profits. Down payment assistance plans are not new to our state; the amount of the grants needs to be adjusted for the current market.

Both Donalds’ and Jolly’s plans will take an act of the legislature to create.

Round 3: How do they address the high cost of food?

Donalds has a plan to address students receiving healthy food options in school, very reminiscent of what former First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama rolled out in 2010. Donalds wants to get the fresh produce directly from Florida farmers.

Jolly speaks on food insecurities caused by SNAP benefits that have been cut.

Neither addresses the high cost of food with a plan. Maybe their income levels leave them with a blind spot on the issues of eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruit being out of reach for many Broward residents.

Round 4: How do they address the high cost of insurance?

Donalds is proposing strategic changes to the existing system, with a target of a 20% to 25% reduction in cost.

Jolly’s plan is to move hurricane and windstorm insurance coverage from private insurance companies into a state backed catastrophe fund. He states that his plan could lower insurance premiums by 60% to 70%. Jolly’s plan states that the hurricane and windstorm insurance would be paid for by ensuring that insurance companies pay the taxes they have been avoiding. Also, additional support could come from real estate taxes. It is stated that homeowners would not pay this insurance.

This doesn’t happen right away; it takes time. In his plan, he states that the Legislature will write the specific spending policy.

During my last year in the Legislature, the insurance plight of the residents in my district was a daily conversation. The ones who had no mortgage were deciding whether to keep their insurance or not. This would leave them with no coverage in case of an emergency or a natural disaster. I voted, hoping the laws would give some relief to homeowners who had seen their rates double and sometimes triple. Four years later, the reforms have not produced what they promised: reductions in costs for Broward homeowners.

Final Round:

These gentlemen both have political experience and the ability to command a stage. The question is, who do you think will steer Broward and our state into financial stability? 1 in 10 registered voters live in Broward, and we can save Florida if we turn out at 72%.