The Florida House Democratic Caucus voted this week to designate Rep. Gallop Franklin II (D-Tallahasee) as its next House Democratic Leader for the 2028-2030 legislative term.
"During his service in the Florida House, Representative Franklin has championed economic opportunity and affordability for Florida families, including expanding access to health care, strengthening higher education, and confronting the skyrocketing costs of insurance and housing to restore financial security for Floridians," Florida House Democrats wrote in an Instagram post.
Rep. Galloway has served District 8 since 2022. The area includes Gadsden County and part of Leon County, including some of Tallahassee, in the Florida Panhandle.
In 2022, Rep. Galloway coasted to a 43-point victory over Republican Curt Bender in the general election. He followed that up with a similar 44-point win over Republican Grace Glass in 2024.
Galloway is running for reelection in November. Aaron Daniel Ruddell (NPA) is currently the only candidate challenging him in the election.
Outside of politics, Galloway graduated from Florida A&M University's College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Galloway is currently a clinical pharmacist with a focus on pharmaceutical compounding at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Florida A&M University, where he is also chair of the Curriculum Committee, according to his campaign bio.
Gallop founded the consulting firm Gallop Inc. with a focus on education. Gallop also recently established a boutique real estate investment firm for affordable housing in northern Florida.
Gallop is also the vice president of diversity for the Suwannee River Area Boy Scouts of America Council and a member of the City of Tallahassee Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise Citizen Advisory Committee
In addition, Galloway is a fourth-degree black belt in Shaolin Goju karate and a former nationally ranked gymnast.
Galloway's designation follows the selection of Sen. Shevrin "Shev" Jones (D-Miami Gardens) as Senate Democratic Leader by the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2028-2030 legislative term earlier this month.
