Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado is joining David Jolly’s campaign for Governor as a co-chair, the campaign announced Monday.
Mercado is a prominent voice in Central Florida, having previously served as Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party and President of the Orange County Democratic Hispanic Caucus. She was first elected Property Appraiser in 2020 and re-elected last year. She also served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives, from 2016 until 2020.
“David Jolly is the Democrat who can win the Governor’s race in less than a year, and put Florida on a better path for years to come,” Mercado said. “He understands the pressures families feel, and he’s the only candidate laying out practical steps to tackle Florida’s affordability crisis. He’s meeting people where they are, bringing together a broad coalition, and proving that leadership is still about solving real problems, not fueling division. That’s why he’s the right person to move Florida forward, and why I’m proud to be in his corner every step of the way.”
Mercado, a mother of six, served as the Democratic Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Committee when she served in the House. She also served as Vice Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus and was an inaugural member of the House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee in 2018.
In 2020, Mercado received the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida’s Fiambrera Award. The year prior she was recognized as the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida’s Legislative Advocate of the Year.
“Amy Mercado is passionate about our fight to end Florida’s affordability crisis and bring down the costs of insurance, housing, and healthcare,” Jolly said. “She’s also a coalition-builder. This is at the heart of the movement we’re creating. She shares my belief that we win this race and change Florida’s trajectory by bringing people together to solve real problems. We do it—not by silencing or ignoring our neighbors—but by listening and empowering them.”
Mercado’s addition to Jolly’s campaign leadership follows recent announcements about the campaign’s coalition building, including Veterans for Florida’s Future and Faith Leaders for Florida’s Future. The campaign expects to add new advisors in the coming weeks addressing areas related to housing affordability, public health, education, energy and the environment, among other urgent needs where bipartisan solutions could improve Floridians’ lives.
Jolly faces Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings so far in the Democratic Primary. The winner will have a difficult path to the Governor’s mansion though, with Florida’s voter registration advantage for the GOP far exceeding 1 million voters. Jolly, a former Republican, is running on a message of unity and bipartisan governance he hopes will attract the state’s independent voters and what he describes as “soft Republicans.”
Mercado’s support, in Demings’ backyard, could be a boon for Jolly in the Primary.
