Ashley Brundage, a Democrat, launched her campaign account this week to run for a seat in the state House representing Hillsborough County and making history by becoming the first transgender person to participate in the legislative process.
According to the website of the state Division of Elections, Brundage submitted the necessary papers to compete for the seat in House District 65 that is now held by Representative Karen Gonzalez Pittman, a Republican from Tampa.
According to a freshly submitted finance report, Gonzalez Pittman, who is seeking re-election in November, has raised a total of $154,189 for her campaign as of the 31st of March.
The Democratic candidate Nathan Albert Kuipers has also opened an account and has accumulated a total of $11,527.
Over the course of the past few years, the Republican-controlled Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis have given their approval to a number of bills that are directed toward transgender individuals.
In a statement that was released on Friday, LPAC, a national organization that assists LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates, expressed its support for Brundage’s campaign.
“In the face of relentless anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida, Ashley Brundage’s voice is not just important — it’s essential,” said Janelle Perez, the executive director of the Latino Political Action Committee (LPAC), in a statement that was being prepared. “An unprecedented wave of policies that undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Floridians is currently being witnessed by us,” an individual said.
