Thus Far The Only Candidate, AG Moody Files For 2022 Reelection

Florida Phoenix

September 14, 2021

Attorney General Ashley Moody publicly opened her campaign for reelection next year, becoming the first and thus far only candidate in the race.

“I am proud to announce that I will be seeking re-election as Florida’s attorney general, to continue building a stronger, safer Florida by prosecuting human trafficking, protecting our seniors, and combating the opioid epidemic,” Moody said in a press release.

Moody is a former commercial litigator who became a U.S. prosecutor and state trial judge in Hillsborough County.

In office, she has been reliably conservative — for example, she was among the state attorneys general who sued to overturn Joe Biden’s election last year; to block Biden’s immigration policies, and to overturn the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.

Moody also participated in antitrust actions against Google, Facebook, and to block an acquisition by Waste Management Inc., the big garbage company.

She has backed DeSantis on numerous occasions during Cabinet debate — approving clemency for people who bucked local mask mandates designed to contain COVID-19; Ok-ing a rule allowing sheriffs to appeal under Florida’s new anti-riot law if county commissions cut their budgets; and in hiring, including the selection of Tallahassee insider Pete Antonacci to oversee the state’s administrative law courts.

Moody accompanied the governor to Texas in July to oversee assistance by state police officers to that state’s border enforcement efforts. Shortly following her return, she announced on Twitter that she’d contract COVID even though she’d been vaccinated.

“Our state faces many challenges, but also incredible opportunities as we work toward upholding the rule of law and protecting our citizens and their rights. I will be campaigning across this great state, asking for Floridian’s steadfast support and their vote,” she said in the press release.

As of her August report, the Friends of Ashley Moody PAC had nearly $2.3 million in the bank, according to state Division of Elections records.

As AG, Republican Moody sits on the Florida Cabinet, helping fellow GOPer Gov. Ron DeSantis make policy in a wide range of areas, including executive clemency, environmental protection, and overseeing the state’s investments.

She has backed DeSantis on numerous occasions during Cabinet debate — approving clemency for people who bucked local mask mandates designed to contain COVID-19; Ok-ing a rule allowing sheriffs to appeal under Florida’s new anti-riot law if county commissions cut their budgets; and in hiring, including the selection of Tallahassee insider Pete Antonacci to oversee the state’s administrative law courts.

Moody has launched programs to support police including Back the Blue and Thin Line Tribute. Law enforcement figures endorsing her include Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, and DeSoto County Sheriff James Potter.

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