Born and raised in Clearwater, Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby previously worked as a public defender and legislative aide. She was also counsel for the NAACP’s local Legal Defense Fund. In 2020, she became the first openly queer Black woman in the Florida legislature, beating Rep. Wengay Newton for House District 62. Just a few weeks ago, she beat Newton again and will run against jailed insurrectionist republican candidate Jeremy Brown this fall. Since taking office, she’s tackled issues like reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and housing justice head-on.
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This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 5, 2022.
