Republican · Florida Senate special · 2026
Ashley Moody
Moody grew up in Plant City, the fifth generation of her family to call it home.
Biography
Ashley Moody is a fifth generation Floridian raised in Plant City, a town known for its strawberries.1 She and her husband Justin, a career law enforcement officer, have two sons.1 Moody earned bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting and a law degree at the University of Florida, and an advanced law degree at Stetson.1
She began in commercial litigation at Holland & Knight, while volunteering to help domestic violence victims seek protection in court.2 As a federal prosecutor, she handled drug, firearm and fraud cases.2 In 2006, at 31, she won election as a circuit judge in Hillsborough County.2
Moody served as Florida attorney general from 2019 to 2025 and chaired the state's human trafficking council.2 Her office's opioid litigation produced a $683 million Walgreens settlement in 2022, with most payments spread over two decades for addressing the crisis and a smaller portion covering legal fees.3 Walgreens did not admit wrongdoing or liability.3
Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the Senate in January 2025.2 She serves on the Judiciary and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees.2 She voted for that year's major Republican tax and spending bill and emphasizes immigration enforcement, public safety and support for President Trump's agenda.42 Her special election opponent is Democratic state Representative Angie Nixon.5
Record and controversies
Hope Florida and campaign claims
Moody's attorney general's office approved a 2024 Medicaid settlement directing $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation; money later passed through nonprofits to political committees campaigning against marijuana legalization.6 A leaked grand jury report criticized the transfer, but an appeals court ordered its findings expunged on October 7, saying the jury exceeded its authority and the funds were not state money.6 PolitiFact's October 22 review said the extent of Moody's personal role was unclear, Nixon's claim of stealing was unsubstantiated and no one involved faced criminal charges.6 Moody dismissed the allegations as political; her campaign pointed to the appeals ruling.6