Jared Moskowitz endorses Lauren Book for SD 30

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz has been collaborating with former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book for more than a decade, and he wants to see her work in Tallahassee.

Moskowitz is endorsing Book’s new campaign for Senate District 30, praising her record on child protection, gun safety and support for working families.

“Lauren Book never backs down from doing what’s right, even when it’s difficult,” Moskowitz said.

“I have always been honored to work with Lauren because she delivers results. She’s exactly the kind of experienced, battle-tested leader our community needs back in Tallahassee.”

As Broward County state lawmakers, Book and Moskowitz worked together on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the 2018 Parkland massacre. The measure, Florida’s most comprehensive gun safety law, raised the minimum rifle purchase age to 21, banned bump stocks, established red flag protections and expanded school safety requirements statewide.

“We’ve worked side-by-side on some of the most consequential public safety and child protection legislation in Florida history,” Book said. “I’m grateful for his support and proud of the work we’ve accomplished together.”

Moskowitz’s endorsement, announced Friday, adds to other nods from Senate Democratic Leader Tina Polsky, state Sen. Mack Bernard and outgoing state Sen. Tina Polsky, who announced this week that she will not seek re-election in SD 30, which covers parts of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County and several communities in northeast Broward.

Book, the founder and CEO of child abuse prevention nonprofit Lauren’s Kids, represented parts of Broward County in the Senate from 2016 to 2024, when she reached term limits.

Her peers elected her as Senate Democratic Leader in April 2021. During her tenure, Book helped expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers and infants, end the state’s tax on diapers and adult incontinence products, and pass some of Florida’s toughest laws targeting human trafficking and child exploitation.

Earlier this month, she completed her 11th annual Walk in My Shoes trek, a 1,500-mile journey from Key West to Tallahassee.

With Polsky forgoing re-election and Berman also leaving the chamber in November due to term limits, Book, if elected, would be the only Jewish woman in the Senate.

She would also have to move; Book currently lives in Davie, outside the district’s boundaries.

Her path to the Democratic nomination also may not be clear, as state Rep. Dan Daley, whose House district overlaps largely with SD 30, confirmed this week that he is taking “a serious look” at running.

Republican Jerusa Zitta has also filed for the race.

The Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.