David Jolly

David Wilson Jolly (born October 31, 1972) is an American attorney, former lobbyist, and formerly Republican politician who served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 13th congressional district (Pinellas County) from 2014 to 2017. Having served as general counsel to his predecessor, Republican Bill Young, Jolly won a January 2014 special election for Young's seat. He was reelected in November 2014 but was defeated in 2016 by Democrat Charlie Crist. After leaving office, Jolly became a prominent Republican critic of President Donald Trump. In September 2018, Jolly announced he had left the Republican Party. Early life Jolly was born in Dunedin, Florida, the son of Judith and Lawson Jolly, a Baptist pastor. He received his B.A. degree from Emory University in 1994 and his J.D. degree from the George Mason University School of Law in 2001. Early career He worked for Republican U.S. Representative Bill Young full time from 1995 to 2006 in various positions, with a brief break for six months in 2001 when he worked at a Washington securities firm. In 2002, Jolly became Young's general counsel and held that position until he left in 2006. He served as the personal attorney for Young's family as well. In 2007, Jolly joined Washington, D.C. firm Van Scoyoc Associates as a lobbyist and in 2011, he left Van Scoyoc to open his own firm, Three Bridges Advisors. He made political donations to both Republicans (about $36,000) and Democrats (about $30,000) during his time as a lobbyist. Jolly had his name removed from the Lobby Registry to run for the vacant House seat. At the time, Jolly was working as vice president of the Clearwater-based investment company Boston Finance Group.