Inside Elections, a national election rating service, upgraded David Jolly's contest with Republican nominee Byron Donalds from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" on Thursday. The change marks the second time the outlet has raised the race's competitiveness rating, following earlier adjustments by Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Jolly's campaign highlighted the rating as confirmation that former President Donald Trump's "frayed coalition" could make the race nationally significant. Jolly indicated in a Wednesday television interview that Trump would not campaign for Donalds this cycle, though Republican sources later suggested the former president plans to visit Florida before the November election. Mark Riddle, a senior adviser to Jolly, stated the campaign remains focused on issues including housing, healthcare, education, and limiting data center development while building a statewide coalition. The campaign has raised less than $1 million in the week ending September 4, leaving it with under $6 million in available funds for a planned October media push. In contrast, Donalds reported holding over $41 million across his political committee and campaign account, with more than $3.5 million raised during the same week. Despite Donalds' substantial cash advantage and ongoing paid media purchases, Jolly noted that advertising spending has not yet translated into improved poll numbers. Donalds faced challenges in the Republican primary, failing to secure a majority in several rural, predominantly white counties where protest votes emerged against his lack of engagement with primary opponents. These counties include Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hardee, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Washington, where 94% of GOP voters are white.