This week, Democrat Ashley Brundage took a significant step towards becoming the first transgender member of the Florida Legislature by opening a campaign account to contest a seat in Hillsborough County's state House. Brundage has officially filed her candidacy for House District 65, currently represented by Republican Karen Gonzalez Pittman, as noted on the state Division of Elections website.

Gonzalez Pittman, who is seeking re-election this November, had amassed $154,189 for her campaign by the end of March, as per recent finance reports. Another Democrat, Nathan Albert Kuipers, has also entered the race, raising $11,527 so far.

Brundage's campaign comes at a time when the Republican-controlled Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis have enacted several laws targeting transgender individuals in Florida. In response to this legislative environment, LPAC, a national group supporting LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates, has endorsed Brundage's run. Janelle Perez, LPAC’s executive director, emphasized the importance of Brundage's candidacy, stating, "In the face of relentless anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida, Ashley Brundage's voice is not just important — it's essential. We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of policies that undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Floridians."

Brundage's campaign is poised to challenge the current political landscape in Florida, providing a potentially transformative perspective within the state legislature.