State Rep. Ashley Gantt says she entered politics out of frustration. Four years later, the Miami-Dade Democrat is campaigning for the Florida Senate, arguing that her legislative experience and willingness to challenge Republican leadership have prepared her to represent District 34 in Tallahassee.
During an interview on Hy-Lo News’ Can We Talk podcast, Gantt outlined her legislative priorities, defended her record in the Florida House, and shared her vision for addressing affordability, public education, infrastructure, and voting rights.
“I got angry, and that’s why I ran,” Gantt said, recalling her decision to seek office after watching lawmakers debate abortion legislation. “There is not one law that tells a man what to do with his body.”
Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, Gantt described a career rooted in public service. A graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School and the University of Florida, she taught through Teach For America before returning home to teach in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She later became a Broward County assistant public defender before opening her own law firm with fellow Democratic lawmakers Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis and Rep. Michele Rayner.
Gantt said the firm made history as the nation’s first law practice founded by three sitting Black women legislators.
Now seeking a promotion to the Senate, Gantt said she wants to continue the work of outgoing Sen. Shevrin Jones while bringing her legal background and legislative experience to the upper chamber.
“I want to continue the effectiveness and then bring my skill set as an attorney,” Gantt said. “It’s only 40 senators in the entire state, which means we have a lot more collegial collaboration and a lot more gets done.”
Throughout the conversation, Gantt repeatedly criticized what she described as coordinated attacks on Black history and diversity initiatives in Florida.
“There is a very specific attack on Black people, Blackness, and Black history in the state of Florida,” she said. “We’ve been very intentional about making sure that when we see anti-DEI bills, we call them for what they are. It’s anti-Blackness.”
Gantt said one of the biggest lessons she has learned in Tallahassee is that success is measured by more than bills becoming law.
“I’ve been successful in the way I’ve been killing bills and the way I’ve been advocating for Black people,” she said.
If elected to the Senate, Gantt said one of her top legislative priorities would be repealing Florida’s Success Academy law, which allows charter schools to co-locate on traditional public school campuses under certain circumstances.
She argued the policy diverts public education resources while limiting the authority of local school districts.
“I’ve been going after Success Academies since I first saw that bill introduced,” Gantt said. “It gives these charters co-location with public schools on the public school dime.”
She also pledged to reintroduce legislation requiring criminal sentencing scoresheets to include clear information explaining when individuals convicted of felonies regain their voting rights.
Among her proposals are restoring local governments’ authority to require living wages for certain contractors, capping annual rent increases for seniors living on fixed incomes, and expanding eligibility for child care assistance as Florida’s minimum wage increases.
Although politics was never part of her original career plan, Gantt said public service became a calling she could not ignore.
“I always feel like I’m an elected official and not a politician,” she said. “This was not on my bingo card. But your purpose is not always on your bingo card. You have to answer it. And so I answered it.”
The full interview with Ashley Gantt is available on Hy-Lo News’ YouTube channel.
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