Organization Also Celebrates Numerous Down-Ballot Legislative, Local, and Constitutional Officer August Victories
Florida — On Florida’s August 20th statewide primary election night, Ruth’s List Florida, the state’s only organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women in Florida, celebrated 27 victories out of its 32 endorsed candidates on the ballot across the state, a stunning 84% win rate for its August slate. Fourteen of them were school board candidates and incumbents, many of them defeating Moms for Liberty-aligned and DeSantis-backed Republicans that were vying to take over even more of Florida’s school boards with an extreme anti-public school agenda of book-banning and discrimination.
“Last night, Moms for Liberty and DeSantis extremism was overwhelmingly rejected all across Florida, and Ruth’s List is incredibly proud to have been behind so many women that delivered that rejection,” said Christina Diamond, CEO of Ruth’s List Florida. “Floridians from the Panhandle to the Keys spoke up at the ballot box last night that they are not interested in Republicans using our children’s classrooms as their culture war battlefield–and we know they’re ready to speak up again in November. From first-time candidates like Rebecca Thompson and Maura Bulman who defeated DeSantis-installed school board appointees in Broward, to incumbents like Laura Hine who delivered an overwhelming defeat of another Moms for Liberty-aligned extremist trying to take over the Pinellas School Board–our Ruth’s List-backed women stand at the frontlines of our children’s futures. We are so proud of our wins last night and are ready for even more in November when abortion is on the ballot.”
Ruth’s List Florida’s endorsed winning school board candidates include:
- Nadia Combs, Hillsborough County School Board District 1 — Outright win — Defeated DeSantis-backed wife of Republican State Senator Jay Collins
- Jessica Vaughn, Hillsborough County School Board District 2 — Outright win
- Lynn Gray, Hillsborough County School Board District 7 — Heading to runoff
- Laura Hine, Pinellas County School Board District 1 — Outright win — Defeated a Moms for Liberty-aligned candidate
- Liz Barker, Sarasota County School Board District 2 — Outright win — Defeated an incumbent Republican in a red county
- Stephanie Arguello, Seminole County School Board District 3 — Heading to runoff
- Anne Douglas, Orange County School Board District 4 — Heading to runoff
- Stephanie Vanos, Orange County School Board District 6 — Outright win — Won with nearly 70% of the vote
- Dr. Avanese Taylor, Brevard County School Board District 4 — Heading to runoff
- Maura Bulman, Broward County School Board District 1 — Outright win — Defeated a DeSantis-appointed Republican school board member
- Rebecca Thompson, Broward County School Board District 2 — Outright win —Defeated a DeSantis-appointed Republican school board member
- Sarah Leonardi, Broward County School Board District 3 — Outright win
- Max Tuchman, Miami-Dade County School Board District 7 — Heading to runoff
- Luisa Santos, Miami-Dade County School Board District 9 — Outright win
Ruth’s List Florida’s endorsed winning down-ballot legislative, local, and constitutional officer candidates include:
- Tracie Davis, SD-5 — Democratic Primary winner
- Angie Nixon, HD-13 — Democratic Primary winner
- Lisa McLean, Hillsborough County Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit —Outright win
- Ashley Brundage, HD-65 — Democratic Primary winner — Won with 81% of the vote
- Melissa Vickers, Orange & Osceola counties Public Defender for the 9th Judicial Circuit — Outright win — She will become the first woman Public Defender of Orange & Osceola counties
- Geraldine Thompson, SD-15 — Outright win
- Rita Harris, HD-44 — Outright win
- Maria Revelles, HD-47 — Democratic Primary winner — Ruth’s List-recruited and run candidate
- Alexcia Cox, Palm Beach County State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit —Democratic Primary winner
- Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor — Outright win — Defeated 6 challengers with 58% of the vote
- Ashley Gantt, HD-109 — Outright win
- Cindy Lerner, Miami-Dade County Commission District 7 — Heading to runoff
- Linda Julien, Miami Gardens City Council Seat 5 — Heading to runoff
Ruth’s List Florida (RLF) is a statewide organization with the mission of recruiting and electing pro-choice Democratic women at all levels of state and local government across Florida. Since its inception in 2008, RLF has successfully elected 250 pro-choice Democratic women in Florida through recruitment, training, campaign support, contributions, and endorsement. RLF is a leader in advocating for reproductive freedom in Florida. RLF educates and informs the public about the importance of women’s rights to access healthcare services that are essential for maintaining reproductive well-being. RLF supports pro-choice women across the state, with the goal of electing more women to fight for full access to reproductive care. Go to ruthslistfl.org/.
RLF CEO Christina Diamond has spent the last 15 years working in Florida politics. She is President and Owner of Diamond Strategies, a campaign consulting firm that helps clients engage and attract donors, build statewide strategy, and communicate effectively. Her clients include the Florida Alliance, Future Majority and advising candidates up and down the ballot. She has served as Senior Advisor and Finance Director for the Florida Democratic Party and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson’s Senate Campaign. Christina lives in St. Petersburg with her husband and three children.
