Fla., House Democrats Elect Two Black Members As Future Leaders; One Makes History As Its First Black Woman

By Issac Morgan, Florida Phoenix

May 19, 2021

Two members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus will be the future leaders of the Florida House Democrats, with one member making history as the party’s first Black woman leader.

Following the end of the special legislative session on gambling expansion in Florida, the House Democratic Caucus met Wednesday and unanimously elected state Rep. Ramon Alexander as its Democratic leader for the 2022-24 legislative term.

He represents Gadsden and part of Leon County and currently serves as the party’s whip for the 2020-22 legislative term.

“Truly honored to be elected this afternoon by my colleagues in the Florida House of Representatives House Democratic Leader for the 2022 – 2024 Legislative Term,” Alexander wrote on Facebook. “To God Be The Glory.”

And for the 2024-26 term, state Rep. Fentrice Driskell will serve as the Democratic leader, as the first Black woman to serve in that role, according to a press release from the House Democratic Caucus.

Driskell, who represents part of Hillsborough County, said in a written statement:

“I am honored the House Democratic Caucus elected me to be their Leader designate for the 2024-26 cycle. As Policy Chair, I worked hard to strengthen our Caucus through focused and inclusive leadership that led to increased unity within our ranks. It’s not lost on me that the Caucus chose to make history and elect the first Black woman to lead our Caucus.”

Driskell currently serves as the House Democratic Policy Chair for the 2020-22 term. According to her bio on the House website, she is an attorney in Tampa and a graduate of Harvard University and the Georgetown University Law Center. She was elected to the House in 2018.

Alexander is listed as a nonprofit executive on the House website and a 2007 graduate of Florida A&M University. “I am confident that the election today shows a united House Democratic Caucus, and I am ready to lead the way to meet the challenges ahead,” he said in a written statement.

Alexander replaces Rep. Ben Diamond, a St. Petersburg Democrat who announced his plans to run for Congress, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.