It’s not the same Democratic Party as when Bill Clinton was president and Hillary Clinton was first lady, but that hasn’t stopped them from making eleventh-hour pitches for party candidates.
Bill and Hillary are returning to the political spotlight ahead of the November 3 midterms, with the former president heading to Florida to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly while Hillary Clinton launches a new election-focused podcast series.
The Clintons’ reemergence comes as Democrats confront an internal debate over the party’s direction, with progressive and Democratic Socialist-backed candidates scoring primary victories against establishment-supported contenders in several states.
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling told Fox News that Bill Clinton remains a talented communicator, particularly with working-class voters, but said Democrats are not seeking a “Clinton restoration.”
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“They’re looking for a path back to winning,” Walling said, arguing that veteran Democratic figures can still contribute without defining the party’s future.
Strategist Mally Smith offered a more restrained assessment, saying the Clintons remain relevant primarily among committed Democrats and highly engaged political voters.
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The broader Democratic campaign is also deploying former President Barack Obama and other prominent party figures as candidates attempt to maximize turnout during the final weeks.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear with Jolly on October 20 at an interfaith event in Hollywood, Florida, marking his first public campaign appearance of the 2026 election cycle and coming exactly two weeks before Election Day.
The appearance will coincide with the beginning of early voting in parts of Florida, where Jolly is challenging Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Jolly previously represented Florida in Congress as a Republican but left the GOP during the Trump era, eventually becoming a Democrat and winning his new party’s gubernatorial nomination in August.
His campaign has emphasized affordability, including proposals aimed at reducing property insurance costs, expanding Medicaid, increasing public-school funding and protecting abortion rights.
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Clinton’s decision to campaign for Jolly puts one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable former leaders into a Florida governor’s race where Democrats have endured a lengthy drought.
No Democrat has won Florida’s governorship since Lawton Chiles secured reelection in 1994, leaving Jolly attempting to end a Republican winning streak stretching more than three decades.
Republicans are likewise bringing national figures into Florida, with Vice President JD Vance recently campaigning in Lakeland for Donalds and Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.
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Meanwhile, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is scheduled to campaign with Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon, while Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy and Ruben Gallego have also appeared with Nixon.
Bill Clinton has remained active in Democratic politics since leaving the White House in 2001, although his campaign appearances have become more selective in recent election cycles.
He made several late appearances during the 2022 midterms before becoming considerably more active in 2024, when he traveled extensively on behalf of then-Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic candidates.
Hillary Clinton is simultaneously increasing her visibility through campaign appearances and a new six-week podcast project with journalist Kara Swisher focused heavily on the midterms.
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The limited series, titled “High Stakes,” debuted October 14 and will release episodes weekly through mid-November as part of Swisher’s existing New York magazine podcast.
Its opening episode discussed rising grocery, gasoline and health-care costs, Elon Musk’s political spending, Democratic messaging on affordability and Senate contests in Michigan and Maine.
“I don’t think the stakes for our country and the world have ever been higher than they are in November,” Clinton said while announcing the project.
The former secretary of state has also returned to in-person campaigning, traveling to Omaha, Nebraska, last weekend for a fundraiser supporting Democratic candidates Lynne Walz and Denise Powell.
During that appearance, Clinton discussed voter frustration and referenced major national events including the September 11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID pandemic and her 2016 presidential defeat.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
