Meet Our 2024 Endorsed Candidates-
CENTRAL FLORIDA SENATE SEATS
Marilyn Holleran, FL Senate District 11
Marilyn is running for a seat in the FL State Senate representing District 11, against the Republican incumbent Blaise Ingoglia, because we need elected officials who care about what the citizens of Florida are actually concerned about; not pointless culture wars.
Geraldine Thompson, FL Senate District 15
During Geraldine’s time in the Florida Legislature, she advocated for sensible gun laws to protect our community, fought for our environment and improvements for our schools, and fought to diversify our economy to provide livable wages for everyone. For more than 40 years, she been a fierce advocate for our community.
Carlos Guillermos Smith, FL Senate District 17
A well-known public servant and proven voice for the people of Central Florida, Carlos has prioritized housing affordability, lowering healthcare costs, reducing gun violence, protecting our environment and raising teacher pay, while defending our fundamental rights and freedoms. With his election to the Florida House in 2016, Carlos made history as Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ Latino lawmaker. He now serves as Equality Florida’s Senior Policy Advisor and lives with his husband Jerick Mediavilla Negron, an educator from Corozal, Puerto Rico, in their East Orlando home in Union Park.
Doris Carroll, FL Senate District 21
As a registered nurse, with specialties focused in Labor and Delivery, OB/GYN, Infectious Diseases, and Primary Care for Adults and Children. One of the responsibilities of elected legislators is to provide safe and accessible healthcare for ALL. Reproductive care for FL women is one of the most restrictive in the country. But we have hope and the fight to overturn it, by voting YES on Amendment #4 in November.
doriscarrollforflsenate21.com
Ben Braver, FL Senate District 23
Ben Braver started teaching at a local middle school directly after graduating from the University of SOUTH FLORIDA with a B.A. in Economics. Ben’s classroom didn’t have enough chairs, a working A/C, or microscopes from after 1970, a direct result of under-investment. He looked for his state legislator hoping to advocate for his student’s needs, but this politician voted at every opportunity to hurt Ben’s students, friends, and family. That’s why Ben Braver is running for State Senate – To Invest In Our Community.
Kristen Arrington, FL Senate District 25
As State Representative Kristen Arrington is a champion for the people of Osceola County. A determined problem solver and tireless advocate for Osceola’s hard-working families. Kristen is focused on fighting for the needs of Kissimmee residents, by increasing funding for education, improving our transportation network, providing more affordable housing opportunities, and securing higher wages for workers.
CENTRAL FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS
Rosemarie Latham, FL House District 29
As a Nurse Practitioner, I’ve had the privilege of earning the trust of my patients as their primary care provider. It’s this firsthand experience that propelled me to step into the realm of public service. Florida’s political landscape has undergone significant shifts and has left many feeling unheard with their essential rights whittled away. It’s time to put a halt to this trend and put the real needs of Floridians first.
Kelly Smith, FL House District 30
Kelly wants to prioritize creating more living wage jobs, improving our schools, and making public safety – especially getting guns off the streets, a top priority. She plans to zero in on the rights of women and voters, and the importance of land and water issues.
kellysmith30.com
Tom Keen, House District 35
Tom’s commitment to public service continued long after serving our country. He has been active in several veteran-service organizations, has been very vocal about lowering home insurance costs and defending reproductive rights.
Nate Douglas, FL House District 37
Nate is running for the State House to fight for everyone, lowering our housing costs, restoring reproductive freedom, and protecting our rights to a clean environment.
Over-construction and an unregulated market that values profit over people caused the housing crisis. Today, insurance companies and large management companies are taking advantage of Central Floridians, driving up costs and forcing many residents out of their homes. Nate has fought back against the destruction of our lands for urban sprawl while our communities lack the funds for public transit and increased walkability.
Sarah Henry, FL House District 38
Sarah’s career has been driven by her commitment to social change and finding joy in hard work and bettering the communities around her. She has worked in non-profits throughout her career, holding roles in development, project management, communications, compliance, and marketing.
LaVonne Bracy Davis, FL House District 40
LaVon Bracy Davis is an advocate and community leader from West Orange County. She is the sister of Former Senator Randolph Bracy, one who has fought fearlessly for this area in Tallahassee for over 10 years. She is a licensed and barred attorney and previously worked as a Senior Attorney for the Department of Children and Families.
Anna V. Eskamani, FL House District 42
Anna made history as the first Iranian-American elected to any public office in Florida and has championed critical issues like economic justice, environmental protection, equality for all, funding for public schools, human trafficking and sexual assault prevention, and support of arts and culture funding. A track record of kind sacrifice, endless hard work, and iron-clad values, Anna is known across the state and nation as a leader who is unbothered, unbossed and committed to the people of Florida.
Rita Harris, FL House District 44
Rita is a mother and longtime community activist. She works tirelessly as a party member in the super-minority, filing amendments to reduce harm from some of the worse legislation we’ve seen filed. Rita is a champion for environmental protection, housing rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive rights.
Maria Revelles, FL House District 47
Maria lives in Kissimmee with her husband and children, where she leads efforts to improve access to quality education, housing, jobs, and healthcare. Maria will fight to protect our rights and freedoms, and give all hardworking families a fair shot at a better future.
Karl Cieslak, FL House District 54
In the last two years, Randy Maggard co-sponsored harmful laws like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the “Stop WOKE Act” and the restrictive Abortion Bill (HB 1519), attacking our freedoms and targeting vulnerable communities. Karl Cieslak fights for affordable insurance, quality education, financial security, and women’s reproductive health rights. He stands for LGBTQ+ rights and social safety nets. cieslak4change.com
Judy Freiberg, FL House District 55
I am running for Florida House District 55 because Florida’s citizens deserve a candidate who represents the interests of all Floridians, who will protect our freedoms, our economic well-being, and our environment.
William Pura, FL House District 56
I am running for State Representative to give voters of Pasco County a choice. A choice between the status quo, and change. A choice between destroying women’s rights, and preserving their freedom to choose. A choice between sacrificing public safety to the gun lobby, and sensible life-saving regulation of the constitutional right to bear arms. A choice between the continued depletion of our public school system, and reinvesting in our teachers and faculties and children. I pledge to represent all citizens of District 56. I have lived here for 18 years after moving to Florida 26 years ago. I am a retired public defender. I look forward to serving you with energy, diligence, and compassion.
Bryan Beckman, FL House District 58
Bryan moved to Clearwater after he retired and immediately became involved in the community. He has advocated for and helped numerous families, non-profits, churches, and municipalities lower their energy bills. This has complemented the leadership and board positions he has held with Suncoast Sierra Group, Pinellas Parks and Conservation Board, Clearwater Alliance for Housing, and the North Pinellas League of Women Voters. Helping families lower their living costs, conserving and protecting our environment, and improving the health and well being of families is a consistent theme in Bryan’s work.
https://www.bryanbeckmanfl.com/meet-bryan
Lindsay Cross, FL House District 60
An environmental scientist with more than 2 decades of experience, she has helped clean up the water in Tampa Bay and improve the health of our community and economy. In Tallahassee, Rep. Cross continues to fight for our health and quality of life. She has passed policies to make housing more affordable and protect people from polluted water. She is committed to lowering the cost of insurance and making life more affordable for hard-working families.
Fentrice Driskell, FL House District 67
As State Representative 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 proudly sponsored a bill tackling police reform and increasing accountability for law enforcement and a bill creating a task force to preserve abandoned African American cemeteries across Florida, both passed. Now as House Democratic Leader, Fentrice intends to make Florida the best place in America to live and work by standing up for its working people and communities.
Local Elections
Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections
Karen Castor Dentel has served the residents of Orange County for more than 25 years. Karen was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. She has served on the Orange County School Board since 2018. Karen has also volunteered for many years with several local organizations, including Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, which raises lifesaving funds to support breast cancer patients; Junior League, a nonprofit organization that promotes volunteerism; the Orange County History Center; and the League of Women Voters.
karen4supervisor.com
Wes Hodge, Orange County Supervisor of Elections
Wes Hodge is a two-time cancer survivor, known for his unwavering commitment to voter rights and political advocacy in Orange County. Wes served for 6 years in the volunteer role of Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party as well as a Political Analyst for Central Florida’s Spectrum News 13 from 2018-2023. In addition to those roles Wes has helped mobilize voters, flip the Orange County Commission to a 6-1 Democratic majority and has advocated and lobbied for policies and legislation to increase voter rights and access.
weshodgeeoc.com
Michael Cox, Mosquito Control District / Seat 3
The Pasco County Mosquito Control District Chairman Cox states that Pasco County is the 4th fastest growing county in Florida and needs a new facility. There is a concern for the future of how officials can protect the public from mosquito-borne diseases. In 2023, for the first time in 20 years, Florida and Texas confirmed their first cases of Malaria. And, scientists say with our changing climate, mosquito – borne diseases are rising.
Dr. Chris Dunning, Superintendent of Schools for Pasco County
Dr. Chris Dunning has been a Florida resident for 35 years with 30 in Pasco County. He started his educational career as an elementary school teacher in Hillsborough County, but quickly moved to Pasco where he became an elementary assistant principal, and then principal. Dunning went on as principal to oversee two middle schools and the district’s most challenging high school, where he turned the school around in just one year. Chris previously worked as the district’s Chief Negotiator, and as an advisor to the superintendent in the employee relations department. Outside of his professional career he volunteers and gives back to the community .
Charlie Justice, Pinellas County Commission / District 3
I ran for the Commission because I believe that the work of local government is important work. I believe that even more so today. That is why we have focused on balancing the budget, lowering the property tax rates, and making public safety a reality, bringing serious crime down 63%. I won’t stop doing the hard work bringing real results for the people of Pinellas.
Deborah Figgs – Sanders, St. Petersburg City Council / District 5
St. Petersburg City Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders will serve as the new 2024 chairperson of the board. She is a dedicated public servant with a heart for her community. Born and raised in the Sunshine State, she has always been passionate about the well-being of her city.
figgssanders4d5stpete
Eileen Long, Pinellas School Board / District 4
Eileen Long was elected to the Pinellas School Board in 2016. She is running for re-election to the Pinellas County School Board. Governor DeSantis has targeted Ms. Long for defeat. She states “I’m not worried, I’ve been continuing to do my board work, making school visits, getting a lot of good support from teachers ….the people in my district know me well.
Brad DeCorte, Pinellas School Board / District 5
Brad DeCorte is currently in his twenty-second-year teaching English at Tarpon Springs Middle School. Brad is a veteran of the Navy. Brad is not only a teacher but has also been able to use his time in Pinellas to advocate for students, teachers, staff, and parents through his work with the Pinellas Classroom Teachers’ Association.
Mark Wilson, Highlands County Commission / District 3
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am an avid supporter of a woman’s rights to bodily autonomy, children’s services and non-discrimination in public offices, schools and businesses. I also support increasing minority involvement in government at both the local and national level. I am a member of the Democratic Executive Committee serving as Precinct Captain, a member of the Democratic Women’s Club, ACLU and NAACP.
Glenn Pearson, Manatee County Commission / District 1
Your Voice Matters! I’m Glenn Pearson, and I’m campaigning to bring a sense of reason back to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners. It’s disheartening to see them focus on divisive national topics. My goal is to shift that focus and prioritize the concerns that truly matter to our residents. I’m committed to being a choice for change and ensuring that your concerns are at the forefront of our discussions. Let’s get after it!
Sari Lindroos-Valimaki, Manatee County Commission / District 7
It’s time for a new leadership that brings Democrats, Republicans, and Independents together to end the chaos in Manatee County Government and deliver real results for all Manatee County Residents. Born in Finland and now a proud Floridian for over 40 years.
sari4manatee.com
Liz Barker, Sarasota School Board / District 2
With all her school age children presently enrolled in Sarasota County Public Schools, Liz has a deeply personal investment in the success of our schools. Her experience as a school psychologist allows her to understand how to integrate data-driven interventions and supports to close the achievement gap and promote student success. Currently, Liz uses her educational expertise to volunteer in classrooms, serve as PTO president and member of the School Advisory Committee, and advocate at school board meetings for all staff, students, and families
National NOW PAC
Meet National NOW PAC 2024 Endorsed Candidate
Kamala Harris, President
There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: Kamala is running to ensure four more years of progress for the American people.