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The only woman candidate in the race to succeed the terming out Representative Patricia Williams (D-Pompano Beach) joins five other Democrats for a crowded August Primary in 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Emily Rodrigues, an FL-HD 98 native, files her candidacy to be the next Democratic State House Representative from Broward County.

“Love for my district, and all our people, businesses, and places living here, is what brings me to today: My name is Emily Rodrigues, and I am running to be the next State Representative from Florida House District 98 encompassing Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and my hometown of Oakland Park,” she begins. “I’m ready to bring my years of direct experience working in the Senate to be my community’s advocate in Tallahassee and be the strong, proud Democratic voice needed for our time.”

On the cusp of Florida abortion right advocates securing a victory fueled by a woman’s right to choose, Rodrigues, 25, establishes herself as a fierce pro-choice defender in a state where a 6-week abortion ban passes through a DeSantis-led, Republican supermajority with ease. As Broward suffers through the five highest coverage premiums of any Florida county and their public teachers and leaders are attacked by the state, the affordability crisis in property insurance and housing, along with refunding and protecting public schools, are included in the candidate’s top priorities for this year. A fourth pillar is more personal: Emily’s Plan.

Emily’s Plan is a series of survivor-centered policies designed to help Florida be more free and safer for all. Borne from Emily’s own survivor journey when she was assaulted in college and her experience navigating the victim process, Emily’s Plan seeks to extend/eliminate statutes of limitations on sex crimes, address systemic backlog of state cases, and provide more institutional support to victims of all crimes in Florida. When 1 in 3 women experience some form of assault in their lifetime, Emily believes changes to the system are overdue and her work in this space provides a framework for survivors to rise up. She has publicly shared her story as a keynote speaker and in her podcast to help raise awareness on the issue of sexual assault on college campuses, the latter of which has been used by UCF Victim Services as a resource for other victims. Emily’s Plan reflects the care and stewardship integral to her character cultivated in a dedicated career of government, nonprofits, and public service.

Graduating from the University of Central Florida and now pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Florida, Emily contributed her abilities to the Office of Senator Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens) while employed in the Florida Senate before moving to work in Democratic and nonprofit fundraising. In her time at the Florida Senate, she assisted in the passage of several bills and procurement of millions of dollars in state funding, helped resolve hundreds of constituents’ issues, and planned events for community engagement, such as food drives and civic education workshops. Currently, Emily oversees digital strategy for a number of mission-driven nonprofit and political clients. Throughout college, Emily worked at the Central Florida Urban League where she helped connect underserved communities with critical resources to improve economic stability and gained a unique perspective in how nonprofits can work alongside government entities to achieve their missions. With firsthand, accumulated experience in Florida politics and community-focused work, Emily Rodrigues boasts the acumen, drive and skillset to achieve solutions for House District 98:

“Fighting for everyday Floridians who make our state great is my proudest moment. From serving as a Senate Page in high school, to interning in the Florida House and working in the Florida Senate, I have spent my entire life around the legislature. Making a difference in people’s lives through policy solutions has always been a passion of mine, and representing my district in Tallahassee has been a lifelong dream.”

Learn more about Emily and her campaign for FL-HD 98 at EmilyForFlorida.com.

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