In Senate District 34, Ashley Gantt and two other Democrats are vying to succeed Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is now running for Florida’s 24th Congressional District.
The heavily Democratic district covers a large swath of Miami-Dade, including Bay Harbor Islands, Miami Beach, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka and Miami Gardens, the most populous Black city in Florida.
Christine Sanon-Jules Olivo and Shannan Ighodaro are also competing in a Democratic Primary. Republican Elizabeth Jeanty will be on the ballot in November.
Florida Politics asked all Democratic Primary candidates to answer a few questions about the race. We are publishing their responses unedited so voters can hear directly from candidates. Here’s what Gantt told us:
— Profession: Since my election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2022, I have proudly represented House District 109 while continuing my legal practice as the founder of my law firm, building on a career of public service as a Broward County Assistant Public Defender, a seven-year teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and a Teach For America corps alumni in the Mississippi Delta.
— Education: I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2007 and earned my J.D. from the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law in 2016
— Years in the district: I have lived in the district for most of my life. I attended Miami-Dade County Public Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, returned home after graduating from college and serving two years with Teach For America in the Mississippi Delta, and moved back to the district permanently after law school in 2017, where I have proudly lived and served ever since.
— Community involvement: I am actively involved in legal, civic, and community leadership. I served as Secretary and later President (2020–2021) of the T.J. Reddick Bar Association and currently serve as Immediate Past President of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. I was a Fellow of the Florida Bar Leadership Academy and previously served as District 2 Trustee on the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust. I also taught as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law and am an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.
— Why are you running? What are your top priorities if elected? I am running for the State Senate to bring my experience as a teacher, attorney, and state representative to the fight for the residents of my district. My top priorities are strengthening public education, expanding access to affordable housing, addressing the impacts of climate change, and advancing meaningful criminal justice reform.
— What are the biggest challenges facing this district, and what can you realistically do about them if elected? The biggest challenges facing our district are the housing affordability crisis and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality public education. If elected, I will fight to expand access to affordable housing, including expanding the affordable housing AMI percentages, while discouraging speculative real estate practices and house flipping through targeted taxation. As a former teacher, I know that investing in our public schools is one of the smartest investments we can make. When our students have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed, our communities and our economy are stronger for it.
— What is one bill you would like to file next Session? Next session, I plan to refile legislation strengthening mental health support for Firefighters in honor of Lt. Alex Acosta. I have filed this bill in the house and plan to bring my mission to providing more support to first responders to the senate.
— How do you plan to get things passed given you will be in the minority? Will you aggressively challenge actions by the GOP majority you disagree with, or is it best to be more conciliatory to secure appropriations and legislative wins? Serving in the Florida House has shown me that meaningful progress is built through relationships, persistence, and a relentless focus on the people you represent. Throughout my time in the Legislature, I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver real results for my district, including securing appropriations that brought critical funding back to our community and advancing legislation to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence, improve access to care through the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program, and support important health and public safety initiatives.
Those accomplishments happened while serving in the minority, proving that you can stand firm in your values while building the partnerships necessary to get things done. I believe the people I represent expect me to be both an effective advocate and a thoughtful legislator. That means working with anyone who shares a commitment to improving people’s lives, while never wavering in my commitment to protecting our rights, strengthening public education, and expanding opportunity for every Floridian.
— The cost of groceries, gas, housing and utilities is top of mind for voters right now. What specific policies do you propose to make life more affordable for constituents? I believe making life more affordable starts with tackling the rising cost of housing while helping families keep more of what they earn. I support requiring affordable housing that allows for more families to be eligible with increasing the AMI in new developments, repairing and preserving existing public housing, expanding access to housing vouchers, and discouraging speculative real estate practices and house flipping through targeted taxation. I also believe we must strengthen our economy by attracting employers that provide good-paying jobs, investing in workforce development and apprenticeship programs, and supporting policies that help hardworking Floridians keep pace with the rising costs of groceries, utilities, and everyday necessities.
— How do you balance Florida’s rapid economic growth and development with protecting affordability and quality of life for existing residents? Florida’s continued growth should create opportunity, not make it harder for families to afford to live here. I believe we can support responsible economic development while protecting the quality of life that makes our communities special. That means investing in affordable housing, strengthening public transportation, supporting public schools, supporting small businesses, and ensuring smart development is planned responsibly so it does not come at the expense of our neighborhoods, infrastructure, or environment. Growth should benefit the people who already call Florida home.
— Many counties have recently enacted data center bans and moratoriums, but our use of AI tools continues to grow. Is there a place for data centers anywhere in Florida, or should other states host the infrastructure that powers AI? Our communities do not want data centers that threaten our natural resources, strain our infrastructure, or drive up costs for hardworking Floridians. Technology has an important role to play in Florida’s future, but growth cannot come at the expense of the people who call our state home. Any data center development must include strong environmental protections, transparency, and meaningful input from impacted communities. There are already two in my current house district so for me this isn’t an abstract concept, my community needs regulations now. We can and must embrace innovation while ensuring that new industries are responsible partners that protect our resources and quality of life.
— Why are you the best Democratic candidate to represent this seat? I have dedicated my career to serving this community as a teacher, attorney, and state representative, and I am proud of the record I have built fighting for the people of House District 109. I am running to succeed Senator Shervin Jones, who has endorsed my campaign, and I am honored to have earned the support of the entire Florida Senate Democratic Caucus, along with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, and a broad coalition of local leaders, labor organizations, public safety professionals, and community advocates. Those endorsements reflect a shared belief that I have the experience, relationships, and proven record to continue delivering for our community. I am ready to build on Senator Jones’ legacy while bringing my own vision and leadership to the Florida Senate to expand opportunity, strengthen public education, make housing more affordable, and improve the quality of life for working families.
— Do you support any kind of property tax relief? If Amendment 3 passes in November, what (if anything) should the Legislature do to help municipalities reeling from the loss of ad valorem revenue? I support efforts to provide meaningful relief for Florida families facing rising costs like true property insurance reform, but we must also ensure our local governments have the resources they need to provide essential services. Amendment 3 is not well thought out, this policy is a threat to public safety funding as well as local governments’ ability to provide for the needs of residents. If Amendment 3 passes, the Legislature must ensure funding for essential services via recurring guaranteed funding and work closely with local leaders to develop a framework for funding resulting gaps in public safety, infrastructure, parks, libraries, and other services our communities rely on every day.
— Anything else you want voters to know about you? I want you to know that serving is not about a title, it’s about my commitment to this community. My roots and my journey is in Senate district 34, from being a student in the classroom to becoming the teacher in the classroom. Then, I kept going and my law school journey led me to the courtroom and to the Florida House. Having served as a public school teacher for seven years and as a public defender and attorney in private practice, I have seen firsthand where our systems fall short — and where they can succeed with the right advocacy, investment, and leadership. Those experiences have shaped my commitment to fighting for expanded opportunities, standing up for working families, and delivering solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people I am honored to represent.