Ashley Moody

Ashley Moody is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the junior United States senator from Florida. A member of the Republican Party, she assumed office in 2025 following her appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis. Prior to her Senate tenure, Moody held the position of the 38th attorney general of Florida from 2019 to 2025. Her legal career began in civil litigation, and she has also served as a circuit court judge in Hillsborough County. Moody's political career has been marked by her involvement in various legal and policy issues, particularly in areas such as healthcare, voting rights, and cannabis legislation.

Early life and career

Ashley Moody was born on March 28, 1975, in Plant City, Florida. She is the eldest of three children born to Carol and Judge James S. Moody Jr. Moody completed her secondary education at Plant City High School, graduating in 1993. She pursued higher education at the University of Florida, where she earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in accounting. During her time at the university, she was actively involved in student leadership, serving as president of Florida Blue Key, a prestigious student organization.

Following her undergraduate studies, Moody continued her legal education at the University of Florida School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. She furthered her legal expertise by earning a Master of Laws in international law from Stetson University College of Law. Moody's early career included an internship with Martha Barnett, who was then the president of the American Bar Association. She subsequently joined the law firm Holland & Knight, where she focused on civil litigation.

In January 1998, Moody changed her political affiliation from Democratic to Republican, coinciding with a shift in the political landscape of Florida. She was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as the student representative on the Board of Regents, which was responsible for overseeing the state's university system. Moody later became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, where she gained valuable experience in federal law enforcement. In 2006, she was elected to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Hillsborough County, a position she held until 2017.

Senate tenure

Moody's political career took a significant turn when she resigned from her judicial position in April 2017 to run for the office of Florida attorney general. In the 2018 Republican primary, she secured her nomination by defeating state representative Frank White. Moody went on to win the general election against Democratic nominee Sean Shaw, receiving 52% of the vote. She was re-elected in 2022, defeating Democratic nominee Aramis Ayala by a substantial margin.

In January 2025, following the resignation of Marco Rubio, who became the United States Secretary of State, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Moody to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat. She is currently serving in the Senate as a member of Class 3, with her current term set to conclude on November 3, 2026. As a senator, Moody has continued to be an active participant in various legislative discussions and initiatives, aligning with the Republican Party's priorities.

Legislative focus and committees

Throughout her career, Ashley Moody has focused on several key issues, particularly in her roles as attorney general and senator. One of her notable positions has been her opposition to the Affordable Care Act, where she supported legal efforts to have the legislation declared unconstitutional. During her tenure as attorney general, she was involved in multiple lawsuits challenging the law's validity.

Moody has also taken a strong stance against the legalization of recreational cannabis in Florida. She argued against a 2022 ballot measure aimed at legalizing cannabis, asserting that the measure's summary was misleading regarding the legal status of cannabis under federal law. The Florida Supreme Court ultimately agreed with her position, leading to the disqualification of the initiative from the ballot. In 2023, she continued her opposition by filing a legal brief against another proposed cannabis measure, again citing concerns about its clarity and legality.

In the realm of voting rights, Moody has opposed efforts to restore voting rights to former felons. Following the passage of the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative in 2018, she collaborated with Governor DeSantis to push legislation requiring that former felons pay all court fees before regaining their voting rights. This stance has drawn criticism, particularly in light of efforts by various organizations to assist felons in paying their fees to enable their participation in elections.

Moody was also a prominent figure during the 2020 United States presidential election, where she supported then-President Donald Trump. Following the election, she joined a coalition of state attorneys general in backing a lawsuit that sought to invalidate the election results in several states. This involvement positioned her as a significant player in the legal battles surrounding the election outcome.

In her current role as a U.S. senator, Moody is expected to continue advocating for her legislative priorities, which reflect her previous positions as attorney general. She is actively participating in the political landscape of Florida and is running for the Republican nomination in the upcoming 2026 United States Senate special election. As she navigates her Senate tenure, Moody's legal background and political experience will likely influence her contributions to national and state-level discussions on key issues.