Meet Fentrice Driskell: Candidate for Florida Senate District 16
TAMPA BAY NATIVE, TRAILBLAZER, ADVOCATE
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell is a Tampa Bay native, leader in her community, and a champion for every Floridian’s freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.
She is widely recognized as a trailblazer, consensus builder, and impassioned advocate who works hard to help each of her constituents.
Fentrice was raised by her parents in Polk County, Florida, and learned the value of hard work from their example. Her father started out as a warehouse stocker and worked his way up to becoming a dispatcher setting an example of reliability and perseverance. Her mother — a longtime public school teacher — always reminded Fentrice about the value of quality public education. Their example motivated Fentrice to achieve academically and become a leader early on in life.
PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
Fentrice’s passion for public service began while participating in Florida Girls State, an educational program for rising high school seniors that replicates the functions of state government. Soon after, with the support of her local community, she attended Harvard University, where she worked her way through college and was elected as the first Black student to serve as president of the student government.
The impact of the community that raised her drew Fentrice back to the Tampa Bay area after finishing law school at Georgetown University. Fentrice joined Carlton Fields law firm as a Business Litigator and immediately got involved in community service programs through the Athena Society, Girl Scouts of America, the George Edgecomb Bar Association, and others.
Remembering her experience in high school with Florida Girls State, Fentrice knew she could do more to make a difference. In 2018, she ran for Florida House District 63. In a competitive race, she won and regained the seat for Florida Democrats.
CHAMPION FOR IMPROVED HEALTH CARE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES
As State Representative, now representing Florida House District 67, Fentrice is a fierce advocate for improved health care outcomes and closing the Medicaid gap for low-income Floridians, common-sense gun reform, investing in our teachers and schools, ensuring a healthy environment, and protecting our voting rights.
Fentrice is incredibly proud of sponsoring a bill tackling police reform and increasing accountability for law enforcement (HB 7051) and a bill creating a task force to preserve abandoned African American cemeteries across Florida (HB 37), both of which were passed unanimously.
CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR FLORIDIANS
As House Democratic Leader, Fentrice has worked to make Florida the best place in America to live and work by standing up for its working people and communities. And, she’s fighting back against extremist Republican policies that threaten our safety and our freedoms.
With this new level of leadership, Fentrice is already creating a brighter future for all Floridians – one based on American values like rebuilding our economy, lowering health care costs, cleaning up corruption, and defending democracy.
Every day, Fentrice continues to prove that our State is exceptional, not because it is perfect, but because we’re always striving to build something better.