| Fentrice Driskell | |
| Office: | Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives |
| Term Start: | November 22, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Evan Jenne |
| State House1: | Florida |
| District1: | 67th |
| Term Start1: | November 6, 2018 |
| Predecessor1: | Shawn Harrison |
| Birth Date: | 3 March 1979 |
| Birth Place: | Polk County, Florida, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | Harvard University (Bachelor of Arts) Georgetown University (Juris Doctor) |
Fentrice DeNell Driskell (born March 3, 1979) is an American attorney and Democratic Party politician currently serving as minority leader[1] and representing the 67th House district in Hillsborough County in the Florida House of Representatives. She is Of Counsel at the law firm of Carlton Fields.[2]
Driskell was born in Winter Haven, Florida to African-American parents.[3] Driskell earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and her Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.[4] 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.[5]
Driskell was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 53 percent of the vote over 47 percent for incumbent Republican candidate Shawn Harrison.[6]
Driskell served as the Florida House Democratic Policy Chair for the 2020–2022 term.[7]
Driskell was unanimously elected as Leader of the Florida House Democratic Caucus for the 2024–2026 term. She will be the first black woman to serve in this role.[8]
In April 2022, Driskell argued that the bill to repeal the Reedy Creek Improvement Act would impose tax burdens on Orange and Osceola counties in the "billions of dollars".[9]
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.[10] The attempted demonstration was unsuccessful in preventing the proposed redistricting.[11]
On, November 3rd, 2023, Driskell voted “no” an H.R. 11-C condemning terror attacks of October 7.