While it’s easy to feel discouraged by the results of this year’s General Election nationally and statewide, our work here at Ruth’s List must continue. Florida women at the local and state level still managed to run strong, winning campaigns this year.
As we chart our path forward in Florida, I want to highlight some of the wins we accomplished in Orange County– a traditionally Democratic stronghold that faced tough challenges by Republican and conservative candidates this year. A shining example is Commissioner Nicole Wilson, who advanced from the primary election in August with an advantage of just 2 votes, and decisively won her first re-election campaign this month. Commissioner Wilson, despite being outspent 8:1 by her Republican male opponent, garnered an impressive coalition of support to reclaim her seat on the Orange County Commission.
Also in Orange County, two first-time candidates won their races: Commissioner-Elect Kelly Semrad and School Board Member Anne Douglas. Both of these women also faced off with well-funded opponents, and successfully defended these local governing bodies from the influence of extremist groups like Moms for Liberty. Commissioner-Elect Semrad is a mom and UCF professor who studies and teaches tourism, socioeconomic research and econometric analyses. School Board Member Anne Douglas is also a local mom and has taught in Orange County Public Schools for over 25 years. Both of these women are experienced community leaders who are bringing their unique qualifications to local government in Orange County, and we are so excited to see them serve their communities as elected officials.
John, please join us in congratulating these women on their electoral victories and wish them well in serving their communities. Women like Commissioners Wilson and Semrad, and School Board Member Douglas, are key parts of our mission of building the bench of women leaders in Florida.
