Fentrice Driskell
Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives
Assumed office
November 22, 2022
Preceded byEvan Jenne
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 67th district
Assumed office
November 6, 2018
Preceded byShawn Harrison
Personal details
Born (1979-03-03) March 3, 1979
Polk County, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationHarvard University (Bachelor of Arts)
Georgetown University (Juris Doctor)
WebsiteState House website

Fentrice DeNell Driskell (born March 3, 1979) is an American attorney and politician who is the Representative in the Florida House of Representatives from the 67th House district in Hillsborough County. She is Of Counsel at the law firm of Carlton Fields.[1] A Democrat, she is minority leader in the Florida House of Representatives.[2]

Early life and education

Driskell was born in Winter Haven, Florida to African-American parents.[3] Driskell earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and her Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.[4] After law school, Driskell was a clerk for Judge Anne C. Conway of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Fentrice also was an intern for Judge Andrew J. Peck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.[5]

Political career

Election

Driskell was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 53 percent of the vote over 47 percent for incumbent Republican candidate Shawn Harrison.[6]

House Democratic Policy Chair

Driskell served as the Florida House Democratic Policy Chair for the 2020–2022 term.[7]

House Democratic Caucus Leader

Driskell was unanimously elected as Leader of the Florida House Democratic Caucus for the 2024–2026 term. She will be the first black woman to serve in this role.[8]

Political positions

In April 2022, Driskell argued that the bill to repeal the Reedy Creek Improvement Act would impose tax burdens on Orange and Osceola counties in the "billions of dollars".[9]

On April 21, 2022, Driskell attempted to stage a sit-in demonstration to prevent a vote on proposed changes to the Florida congressional district maps that included dismantling of her district.[10] The attempted demonstration was unsuccessful in preventing the proposed redistricting.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile". Carlton Fields. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  2. ↑ https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4745&LegislativeTermId=90
  3. ↑ "Florida State Rep. Fentrice Driskell - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Florida State Rep. Fentrice Driskell - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Fentrice D. Driskell". Carlton Fields. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Florida Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "MyFloridaHouse.gov - Fentrice Driskell".
  8. ↑ "House Democrats elect Ramon Alexander and Fentrice Driskell as future Leaders". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. May 19, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ Yang, Maya (April 21, 2022). "Disney to lose special tax status for opposing Florida's 'don't say gay' bill". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  10. ↑ Gaudiano, Kimberly Leonard, Nicole. "Florida House Republicans compare a Democratic protest against redistricting to the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol". Business Insider. Retrieved January 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Florida approves DeSantis-backed congressional maps that dismantle Black lawmaker's seat". POLITICO. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
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