2026 FL House: Two Female Legislators Vie for Democratic Leadership
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State Reps. Kelly Skidmore and Christine Hunschofsky are running for the House Democratic leadership 2026-2028 term in Florida, hoping to succeed House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell. Skidmore is a ranking Democratic member in multiple healthcare committees and has served in the Florida House since 2006. Hunschofsky, in the House since 2020, is the Democratic ranking member of the Infrastructure Strategies Committee and the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.
Florida House Democratic Leadership Contenders Announced for 2026-2028 Term
Kelly Skidmore and Christine Hunschofsky, Florida State Representatives, have announced their candidacy for the pivotal House Democratic leadership for the 2026-2028 term. The caucus will elect the next leader at the start of the session in January.
Both women aim to succeed Fentrice Driskell as House Democratic Leader post her 2026 term. They officially declared their candidacies on Nov. 21, with no other contenders announced yet. This affirms that the House caucus leadership could remain in female hands for the next five years.
Serving part of Palm Beach County, Skidmore has been a Florida House Representative from 2006 to 2010 and starting again in 2020. As per her state House profile, she has also been the Democratic ranking member in several healthcare committees. Meanwhile, Hunschofsky, who represents part of Broward County, joined the House in 2020.
During the upcoming legislative session, Skidmore and Hunschofsky will serve as Democratic ranking members on crucial committees and subcommittees. They are also part of the Healthcare Regulation subcommittee together, with health care policy being a key focus in 2024.
When Fentrice Driskell made history as the first Black woman leading Florida House Democrats in 2022, Skidmore took over as caucus policy chair, a position once held by Driskell herself.
Skidmore, expressing her excitement about the Democratic Caucus’s opportunities, promised steady and committed leadership without personal or political ambition. Last month, she and State Rep. Robin Bartleman of Broward County unsuccessfully pushed for an oversight hearing on Medicaid eligibility rollback impacting Florida’s health services access.
Hunschofsky, earlier this year, co-sponsored a bill to legalize fentanyl test strips. For the upcoming session, among her four filed proposals, HB 291 aims to strengthen background checks for guns.
Skidmore’s candidacy received endorsements from four representatives, including Kevin Chambliss, Kristen Arrington, Dan Daley, and David Silvers. Chambliss emphasized the need for strong and experienced leaders like Skidmore to bring about positive change. So far, Hunschofsky’s endorsements remain unannounced.
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