Less than a week into her Senate District 34 campaign, Miami Rep. Ashley Gantt has secured support from most fellow Democrats already serving in the chamber.

Seven members of the Senate Democratic Caucus — Leader Lori Berman and Sens. Mack Bernard, LaVon Bracy Davis, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Rosalind Osgood, Tina Scott Polsky and Barbara Sharief — are all backing Gantt, her campaign announced.

Gantt, a lawyer, is currently the only candidate running to succeed Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones, who confirmed last week that he won’t seek re-election ahead of an expected congressional run.

Berman said Gantt will excel in the job, citing firsthand experience working with her on a law mandating lactation spaces in Florida courthouses

“Ashley carried the twin House bill with the skill and conviction of someone who understood exactly what was at stake for mothers, families, and working women across this state,” Berman said.

“That’s Ashley: she finds the fights that matter, she does the work, and she gets results. The Florida Senate needs more of that.”

Bracy Davis, who has known Gantt since before either was in the Legislature and launched a legal partnership last year with her and Rep. Michele Rayner, was more personal.

“When you build a law firm with someone, draft legislation with them, and fight for the same families in the same halls, you learn who they really are,” she said. “Ashley never backs down from the hard cases, in law or in life.”

Smith called Gantt “exactly the kind of bold, fearless leader that District 34 — and all of Florida — needs right now,” while Osgood, who has represented portions of SD 34, said Gantt will be “a fighter” for the district.

Polsky, meanwhile, described Gantt as “compassionate, relentless, and deeply committed to the families she serves.” Sharief praised Gantt’s “unwavering sense of purpose.”

Gantt welcomed the endorsements Tuesday, saying she is “honored to have their support and grateful for their confidence in my ability to continue that fight with them in the Florida Senate.”

“These endorsements mean so much to me because they come from leaders who are fighting every day for Florida families — protecting fundamental freedoms, and standing up for our communities,” she said. “Together, we will keep working to build a Florida where every family has the opportunity to thrive.”

A lawyer and former public school teacher, Gantt won her House seat in 2022 by fewer than 500 votes. Two years later, she secured re-election by a whopping 24-percentage-point margin.

She has distinguished herself as one of the House’s most vocal progressives, focusing on criminal justice reform, education equity, reproductive rights and economic opportunity.

Her move to the Senate race leaves her seat representing HD 109, which covers an inland portion of eastern Miami-Dade County, including parts of Miami and Opa-locka.

So far, two Democrats are running to succeed her: James Bush III, whom Gantt unseated in 2022 and repelled in 2024, and Opa-locka Mayor John Taylor.

Others may soon file, but time is of the essence; the qualifying deadline is June 12.

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

The post ‘She finds the fights that matter’: Senate Democratic leaders line up behind Ashley Gantt’s SD 34 bid appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..