House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell Announces House Democratic Leadership Team

MIAMI - House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell on Thursday named her House Democratic Caucus leadership team for the 2024-26 legislative term.

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland) will serve as Democratic Leader Pro Tempore. Her duties will include assisting Driskell in carrying out leadership duties as assigned and filling in as caucus leader if Driskell is absent.

Hunschofsky has been a House member since 2020 and is the former mayor of Parkland from 2016-2020. Hunschofsky is also in line to succeed Driskell as Democratic leader in 2026.

Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton) will remain Policy Chair for the second term in a row. Skidmore represents House District 92 and ran unopposed in the 2024 general election.

Rep. Mike Gottlieb (D-Hollywood) will also remain as Floor Leader. Gottlieb represents House District 92 and defeated Republican candidate Mery Lopez-Palma by seven points in the 2024 general election.

Rep. Marie Paule Woodson (D-Hollywood) will serve as the new Caucus Whip. Woodson represents House District 105 and won her seat by 59 points in the 2024 general election.

Driskell also assigned Reps. Allison Tant (D-Tallahassee), Felicia Simone Robinson (D-Miami Gardens, Daryl Campbell (D-Fort Lauderdale), Lindsay Cross (D- St. Petersburg), and Johanna López (D-Orlando) as Deputy Whips.

Driskell, 45, will look to steer House Democrats in the right direction in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Democrats hold just 33 seats to Republicans 86 in the 120-member chamber.

The party also saw two defections in December in Reps. Susan Valdes and Hillary Cassel. House Republicans are led by Danny "Daniel" Perez (R-Miami) who was named Speaker of the House last November.

Moreover, Republicans have controlled the governor's office and the Legislature since 1999. Their dominance makes state Democrats (and Driskell's job) evermore difficult in passing legislation.

Representing House District 67, Driskell won re-election over Republican candidate Ronrico Smith in HD 67 by nine points last November. This is her second legislativeHH term as party leader after being elected in 2022.

The 2025 legislative session begins on Mar. 4 and ends on May 2.