Christine Hunschofsky plans affordability focus as next House Democratic Leader

Parkland Rep. Christine Hunschofsky is set to become House Democratic Leader after the 2026 elections. It’s a pivotal time for the caucus, now years into an effort to escape a GOP supermajority.

As she prepares to take the proverbial baton, Hunschofsky wants the transfer to be seamless. That means continuing to advance priorities now pushed by current Leader Fentrice Driskell, led by affordability.

“We’ve been talking a lot about affordability for quite a while now, because that’s what we’re hearing at home,” she said, pointing to rising housing, property insurance and health care costs and a broader cost-of-living jump that wages haven’t matched.

Hunschofsky said she expects her agenda as Leader to evolve with events, but pointed to long-standing workforce issues, gun safety and mental health as core focuses.

The Florida chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named Hunschofsky its “Elected Official of the Year” in 2025, citing her legislative efforts to reduce barriers for school social workers, strengthen the state’s behavioral health system and allow social workers to practice across state lines.

“Mental health is always going to be something I’m focused on,” she said. “But a lot of what I look to focus on going forward will depend on things that happen and don’t happen this Session.”

Hunschofsky’s path to Tallahassee began with her just trying to gain a community foothold after moving from Boston to Parkland in 2000. With no local family or friends, she joined moms’ clubs, served on her homeowners’ association board, coached Little League, held parish leadership roles and regularly attended City Commission meetings.

“I was active,” she said. “That’s how you get to know the community and become part of it.”

In 2013, she won a Special Election for the Parkland City Commission with 84% of the vote. Three years later, after successful efforts on school-quality issues and streetlight initiatives, she ran for Mayor and won by 52 percentage points.

It was a turbulent time. She navigated Hurricane Irma, the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and the onset of the COVID pandemic.

“A hurricane is difficult,” she said. “But when you go through something like a mass shooting, it changes you forever.”

Her leadership won commendation and encouragement from then-Rep. Kristen Jacobs to run for state office. The original idea was for Hunschofsky to run when Jacobs reached term limits in 2022, but Jacobs — who died of colon cancer in April 2020 — asked Hunschofsky to run for her seat two years early.

Hunschofsky did, winning 96% of the vote against a lone write-in candidate. In the past two election cycles, she has won re-election without opposition. And since taking her seat representing House District 95, Hunschofsky has enjoyed a 59% passage rate on sponsored bills.

Hunschofsky secured the Leader-designate post in February 2024, defeating Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton in a secret caucus ballot. Hunschofsky said she did not arrive in Tallahassee with a plan to seek the caucus leadership, but warmed to the idea after seeing infighting among her caucus peers.

“Sometimes it’s hard on members of our caucus because we’re in a superminority,” she said. “I see the role of Leader as bringing people together toward a common cause.”

Coral Springs Democratic Rep. Dan Daley praised Driskell’s tenure, including what he called record fundraising, and said the next test is whether Hunschofsky can build from there.

“Christine is a hard worker and a good legislator, and I hope she puts the same level of care, determination and hard work into her role as Leader,” he said. “We need a loyal opposition that is well-organized and large enough to matter and make a difference.”