State Rep. Ashley Gantt announced she will run to succeed state Sen. Shevrin Jones in Senate District 34.
The Miami-Dade Democrat announced her campaign shortly after U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson confirmed she will retire from Congress. Jones already said he would not run for another Senate term and is expected to run for Wilson’s seat.
“Today, I want to first take a moment to honor a true South Florida icon whose supreme service and selfless service is an example to us all,” Gantt said.
“Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has spent her life fighting for our community, as a teacher, a state legislator, and for 16 years as a fearless voice for us in Congress. Her signature hats are as legendary as her heart. We owe her a debt that cannot be repaid, and I am grateful for every door she opened and every barrier she broke.”
Gantt won election to the Florida House in 2022, unseating former state Rep. James Bush III in a Democratic Primary. She unseated the moderate lawmaker by just under 500 votes that year after rallying the support of numerous South Florida Democratic leaders at the time.
The lawyer, who is the founder and managing partner at Gantt Legacy Law, has since set herself apart as a vocal progressive in the chamber. She was also a teacher before she entered the legal field, and worked in the Public Defender’s Office for two years before entering private practice.
“From the classroom to the courtroom, Ashley has dedicated her career to serving her community,” her campaign website reads. “She hopes to bring her experiences to Tallahassee to advocate for the residents of her district.”
Her departure from the House means her House District 109 seat will be open sooner than expected; she had been eligible to serve two more terms before term limits kicked in.
Gantt has also been a voice for more local control of government, speaking in the last Regular Session against sweeping a land-use bill that upended Miami-Dade County’s urban development boundary.
