Bill Clinton is scheduled to make his first public campaign appearance of the 2026 election cycle on Oct. 20, supporting Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee David Jolly at an interfaith event in Hollywood, Florida. Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later became a Democrat, is running against Republican Rep. Byron Donalds for the seat being vacated by term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Jolly’s campaign platform includes lowering property insurance costs with a state-backed catastrophe fund, expanding Medicaid, raising public-school funding and protecting abortion rights, according to the supplied report. The material does not provide details about the event’s agenda or describe any campaign remarks Clinton is expected to make.
Hillary Clinton has also been active in the midterm effort. She traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, for a Saturday fundraiser supporting Democratic candidates Lynne Walz and Denise Powell. The event was called “Pumpkins, Pies, and Politics.” When asked how she would respond to voters who feel their votes no longer matter, she discussed difficult events over the past quarter-century, including the Sept. 11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, the 2016 election and the COVID pandemic.
Clinton has also joined journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher for “High Stakes,” a six-week series focused on the midterms. It debuted Oct. 14, with new episodes scheduled weekly through mid-November. The first episode covered the cost of gas, groceries and health care, Elon Musk’s political spending, how Democrats might make affordability a central campaign issue, and Senate contests in Michigan and Maine.
The pair’s return to prominent campaign activity comes as Democrats face competing views about the party’s future. The report notes primary wins by Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates over incumbent or establishment-supported Democrats in Colorado, New York and Michigan. It frames the Clintons’ activity against that intraparty shift, while raising the broader question of how much influence the longtime Democratic figures retain.
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling praised Bill Clinton’s ability to communicate about economic concerns and connect with working-class voters. Walling said Democrats are focused on finding a route back to winning rather than seeking a restoration of the Clinton era. He also described the former president’s Florida appearance and Hillary Clinton’s podcast as potentially helpful to the party.
Another Democratic strategist, Mally Smith, was more doubtful about the former officials’ ability to attract attention. Smith said they may appeal to some voters, particularly Democratic base voters and people who closely follow politics, but argued that the difficult media environment makes it challenging for former officeholders to break through.
Walling also said Democrats need to draw on the experience of the party’s past without eclipsing the next generation of leaders. The supplied report says Fox News Digital sought comment from the Clintons and Jolly’s campaign; it does not include responses from them.
