Fentrice Driskell

American politician from Florida

Fentrice Driskell
Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 22, 2022
Preceded byEvan Jenne
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 67th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 6, 2018
Preceded byShawn Harrison
Personal details
Born (1979-03-03) March 3, 1979 (age 45)
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]

On, November 3rd, 2023, Driskell voted “no” an H.R. 11-C condemning terror attacks of October 7.

References

  1. ^ "Profile". Carlton Fields. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Fentrice Driskell - 2022 - 2024 ( Speaker Renner )".
  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. April 21, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives
2022–present 		Incumbent
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Majority leaders
▌Mark Wright (R)
▌David Moon (D)
▌Mike Moran (D)
▌Jamie Long (DFL)
▌[to be determined] (R)
▌Sue Vinton (R)
▌Ray Aguilar (R)*
▌Jason Osborne (R)
▌Mike Lefor (R)
▌Bill Seitz (R)
▌Josh West (R)
▌Ben Bowman (D)
▌Emily Long (D)
Federal districts:
Territories:
▌Rory Respicio (D)*
▌Ed Propst (D)
▌Kenneth Gittens (D)*
Political party affiliations
▌Republican: 28 states
▌Democratic: 21 states, 3 territories, 1 district
▌Popular Democratic: 1 territory
  • v
  • t
  • e
Minority leaders
▌Anthony Daniels (D)
▌James Gallagher (R)
▌Fentrice Driskell (D)
▌Vic Miller (D)
▌Derrick Graham (D)
▌Matt Hall (R)
▌Kim Abbott (D)
Vacant*
▌Vacant (R)
▌Zac Ista (D-NPL)
▌Mike Yin (D)
Federal districts:
None*
Territories:
▌Chris Duenas (R)*
▌Patrick San Nicolas (R)
▌Dwayne DeGraff (I)*
Political party affiliations
▌Democratic: 27 states
▌Republican: 21 states, 2 territories
▌Independent: 1 state
▌ New Progressive: 1 territory
An asterisk (*) indicates a unicameral body.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Current members of the Florida House of Representatives
Speaker
▌Paul Renner (R)
Speaker pro tempore
▌Chuck Clemons (R)
Majority Leader
▌Michael J. Grant (R)
Minority Leader
▌Fentrice Driskell (D)
  1. ▌Michelle Salzman (R)
  2. ▌Alex Andrade (R)
  3. ▌Joel Rudman (R)
  4. ▌Patt Maney (R)
  5. ▌Shane Abbott (R)
  6. ▌Philip Griffitts (R)
  7. ▌Jason Shoaf (R)
  8. ▌Gallop Franklin (D)
  9. ▌Allison Tant (D)
  10. ▌Chuck Brannan (R)
  11. ▌Sam Garrison (R)
  12. ▌Wyman Duggan (R)
  13. ▌Angie Nixon (D)
  14. ▌Kimberly Daniels (D)
  15. ▌Dean Black (R)
  16. ▌Kiyan Michael (R)
  17. ▌Jessica Baker (R)
  18. ▌Cyndi Stevenson (R)
  19. ▌Paul Renner (R)
  20. ▌Bobby Payne (R)
  21. ▌Yvonne Hayes Hinson (D)
  22. ▌Chuck Clemons (R)
  23. ▌Ralph Massullo (R)
  24. ▌Ryan Chamberlin (R)
  25. ▌Taylor Yarkosky (R)
  26. ▌Keith Truenow (R)
  27. ▌Stan McClain (R)
  28. ▌Tom Leek (R)
  29. ▌Webster Barnaby (R)
  30. ▌Chase Tramont (R)
  31. ▌Tyler Sirois (R)
  32. ▌Thad Altman (R)
  33. ▌Randy Fine (R)
  34. ▌Robbie Brackett (R)
  35. ▌Tom Keen (D)
  36. ▌Rachel Plakon (R)
  37. ▌Susan Plasencia (R)
  38. ▌David Smith (R)
  39. ▌Doug Bankson (R)
  40. ▌LaVon Bracy (D)
  41. ▌Bruce Antone (D)
  42. ▌Anna Eskamani (D)
  43. ▌Johanna López (D)
  44. ▌Rita Harris (D)
  45. ▌Carolina Amesty (R)
  46. ▌Kristen Arrington (D)
  47. ▌Paula Stark (R)
  48. ▌Sam Killebrew (R)
  49. ▌Melony Bell (R)
  50. ▌Jennifer Canady (R)
  51. ▌Josie Tomkow (R)
  52. ▌John Temple (R)
  53. ▌Jeff Holcomb (R)
  54. ▌Randy Maggard (R)
  55. ▌Kevin Steele (R)
  56. ▌Brad Yeager (R)
  57. ▌Adam Anderson (R)
  58. ▌Kim Berfield (R)
  59. ▌Berny Jacques (R)
  60. ▌Lindsay Cross (D)
  61. ▌Linda Chaney (R)
  62. ▌Michele Rayner (D)
  63. ▌Dianne Hart (D)
  64. ▌Susan Valdes (D)
  65. ▌Karen Gonzalez Pittman (R)
  66. ▌Traci Koster (R)
  67. ▌Fentrice Driskell (D)
  68. ▌Lawrence McClure (R)
  69. ▌Danny Alvarez (R)
  70. ▌Mike Beltran (R)
  71. ▌Will Robinson (R)
  72. ▌Tommy Gregory (R)
  73. ▌Fiona McFarland (R)
  74. ▌James Buchanan (R)
  75. ▌Michael J. Grant (R)
  76. ▌Spencer Roach (R)
  77. ▌Tiffany Esposito (R)
  78. ▌Jenna Persons (R)
  79. ▌Mike Giallombardo (R)
  80. ▌Adam Botana (R)
  81. ▌Bob Rommel (R)
  82. ▌Lauren Melo (R)
  83. ▌Kaylee Tuck (R)
  84. ▌Dana Trabulsy (R)
  85. ▌Toby Overdorf (R)
  86. ▌John Snyder (R)
  87. ▌Mike Caruso (R)
  88. ▌Jervonte Edmonds (D)
  89. ▌David Silvers (D)
  90. ▌Joseph Casello (D)
  91. ▌Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R)
  92. ▌Kelly Skidmore (D)
  93. ▌Katherine Waldron (D)
  94. ▌Rick Roth (R)
  95. ▌Christine Hunschofsky (D)
  96. ▌Dan Daley (D)
  97. ▌Lisa Dunkley (D)
  98. ▌Patricia Hawkins-Williams (D)
  99. ▌Daryl Campbell (D)
  100. ▌Chip LaMarca (R)
  101. ▌Hillary Cassel (D)
  102. ▌Michael Gottlieb (D)
  103. ▌Robin Bartleman (D)
  104. ▌Felicia Robinson (D)
  105. ▌Marie Woodson (D)
  106. ▌Fabián Basabe (R)
  107. ▌Christopher Benjamin (D)
  108. ▌Dotie Joseph (D)
  109. ▌Ashley Gantt (D)
  110. ▌Tom Fabricio (R)
  111. ▌David Borrero (R)
  112. ▌Alex Rizo (R)
  113. ▌Vicki Lopez (R)
  114. ▌Demi Busatta Cabrera (R)
  115. ▌Alina Garcia (R)
  116. ▌Daniel Perez (R)
  117. ▌Kevin Chambliss (D)
  118. ▌Mike Redondo (R)
  119. ▌Juan Carlos Porras (R)
  120. ▌Jim Mooney (R)