Fentrice DeNell Driskell (born March 3, 1979) is an American attorney and Democratic Party politician currently serving as minority leader and representing the 67th House district in Hillsborough County in the

Florida House of Representatives The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...

. She was of counsel at the law firm of Carlton Fields. Now, a Partner a
Swope, Rodante P.A.

Early life, education, and career

Driskell was born in

Winter Haven, Florida Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is located about east of Tampa, Florida, Tampa and about southwest of Orlando, Florida, Orlando, with neighboring Lakeland, Florida, Lakeland located to its west. The city's popul ...

to African-American parents. Driskell earned her Bachelor of Arts from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

and her Juris Doctor from the

Georgetown University Law Center Georgetown University Law Center is the Law school in the United States, law school of Georgetown University, a Private university, private research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It was established in 1870 and is the largest law ...

. After law school, Driskell was a clerk for Judge Anne C. Conway of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Fentrice also was an intern for Judge Andrew J. Peck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Political career

Election

Driskell was elected in the

general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...

on November 6, 2018, winning 53 percent of the vote over 47 percent for incumbent Republican candidate Shawn Harrison.

House Democratic Policy Chair

Driskell served as the Florida House Democratic Policy Chair for the 2020–2022 term.

House Democratic Caucus Leader

Driskell was unanimously elected as Leader of the Florida House Democratic Caucus for the 2024–2026 term. She was the first black woman to serve in this role. In November 2024, Driskell was reconfirmed as Leader of the Florida House Democrats, making her the first House member elected to serve consecutive leadership terms since 1992.

Political Positions

In April 2021, Driskell has supported bipartisan police reform efforts in the Florida House, notably advocating fo
HB 7051
which aimed to increase accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices. She has emphasized the importance of building trust between police and the communities they serve through meaningful legislative action. In April 2022, Driskell argued that the bill to repeal the

Reedy Creek Improvement Act The Reedy Creek Improvement Act, otherwise known as House Bill No. 486, was a law enacted in the U.S. state of Florida in 1967 establishing the area surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort (the Reedy Creek Improvement District) as its own coun ...

would impose tax burdens on

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

and

Osceola Osceola (1804 – January 30, 1838, Vsse Yvholv in Muscogee language, Creek, also spelled Asi-yahola), named Billy Powell at birth, was an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida. His mother was Muscogee, and his great-grandfa ...

counties in the "billions of dollars". On April 21, 2022, Driskell attempted to stage a sit-in demonstration to prevent a vote on proposed changes to the Florida congressional district maps that included dismantling of her district. The attempted demonstration was unsuccessful in preventing the proposed redistricting. In February 2023, Driskell sponsore
HB 49
a bill establishing the Historic Cemeteries Program and Advisory Council within the Florida Department of State to support the identification, preservation, and maintenance of abandoned and historic cemeteries, particularly African American sites. The bill included a $1 million appropriation for research and grants, and passed all committee stops with strong bipartisan support. In December 2024, Driskell has actively pushed for Medicaid expansion and the implementation of the Florida KidCare program, publicly urging Governor Ron DeSantis and state agencies to provide affordable health care to more children and families. She has written forma
letters
demanding action, criticized state delays as irresponsible, and called for dropping lawsuits that restrict continuous coverage for children, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable Floridians. In March 2025, Driskell criticized proposals to eliminate property taxes in Florida, arguing that such measures would harm local communities by reducing funding for essential public services like schools, police, and fire departments. She contends that shifting the tax burden onto local governments would force cuts to vital services, highlighting her opposition to policies she views as detrimental to everyday Floridians.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Driskell, Fentrice 1979 births 21st-century American women politicians Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives Georgetown University Law Center alumni Harvard College alumni Living people Women state legislators in Florida People from Winter Haven, Florida 21st-century members of the Florida Legislature