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Ashley Moody

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Ashley Moody
38th Attorney General of Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
GovernorRon DeSantis
Preceded byPam Bondi
Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
In office
January 2, 2007 – April 28, 2017
Succeeded byJennifer Gabbard
Personal details
Born (1975-03-28) March 28, 1975 (age 49)
Plant City, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1998–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (before 1998)
SpouseJustin Duralia
Children2
Parent
EducationUniversity of Florida (BS, MS, JD)
Stetson University (LLM)
Signature

Ashley Brooke Moody (born March 28, 1975) is an American attorney and politician serving as the attorney general of Florida since January 2019. Moody previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney and a circuit court judge in Hillsborough County.

During her tenure as Florida attorney general, Moody has supported lawsuits to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, advocated against restoration of voting rights for former felons, and opposed the legalization of recreational marijuana. Moody was a significant surrogate of then-President Donald Trump in Florida during the 2020 presidential election, and joined in the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit, which sought to overturn the results of the election.

Early life and education

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Moody was born in Plant City, Florida, on March 28, 1975.[1] She is the oldest of three children born to Carol and Judge James S. Moody Jr.[2]

Moody graduated from Plant City High School in 1993.[3] She received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in accounting from University of Florida. While attending the University of Florida, she served as president of Florida Blue Key.[4] Moody earned a Master of Laws in international law from Stetson University College of Law, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida School of Law.[5]

Early career

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Moody interned for Martha Barnett, the president of the American Bar Association,[2] and later joined the law firm Holland & Knight, working in civil litigation.[6]

In January 1998, Moody switched her party affiliation from Democratic to Republican. Upon his election, Florida governor Jeb Bush appointed her to be the student representative on the Board of Regents, a now-defunct body that ran the state's university system.[1]

Moody was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida.[6] In 2006, Moody was elected to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, which consisted of Hillsborough County.[7][8][9]

Florida Attorney General

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Elections

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On April 28, 2017, Moody resigned from the court to run for Florida attorney general in the 2018 election.[10][11] In the Republican primary, Moody defeated state representative Frank White, who attacked Moody for her prior registration as a Democrat.[12][13] In the general election, Moody defeated Democratic nominee Sean Shaw, a state representative, with 52% of the vote to Shaw's 46%.[14]

Moody was reelected in the 2022 election against Democratic nominee Aramis Ayala, winning by a margin of approximately 20%.[15][16]

Tenure

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Health care

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Moody kept Florida in a lawsuit that seeks to have the Affordable Care Act deemed unconstitutional.[17][18]

Michael Flynn

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In May 2020, Moody urged the federal government to drop its case against Trump associate Michael Flynn who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.[19]

Marijuana

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Moody argued for the disqualification of a 2022 ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis in Florida, contending that the proposed amendment was misleading because the summary (which could not be longer than 75 words) did not clarify that cannabis would remain illegal under federal law.[20][21] The Supreme Court of Florida agreed in a 5–2 ruling in April 2021, effectively killing the initiative which had already received 556,049 valid signatures of 891,589 required to appear on the ballot.[22][23] Two months later, in June 2021, the court granted Moody's request that a second ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis be disqualified from the 2022 ballot, in another 5–2 ruling that deemed the measure "affirmatively misleading".[24][25]

In June 2023, Moody argued for the disqualification of a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis in Florida, filing a 49-page legal brief that asserted once again that the summary failed to make clear that cannabis would remain illegal under federal law, among other arguments put forth in the brief.[26] The challenge sought to strike down the initiative which had received 967,528 of a required 891,523 valid signatures to appear on the ballot.[27] The Florida Supreme Court ruled in April 2024 in a 5–2 ruling against Moody that the initiative would remain on the ballot.[28][29]

Voting rights

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Moody opposes the restoration of voting rights for former felons.[30] Following the passing of Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative in 2018, Moody, along with Governor Ron DeSantis, helped push a bill through the Florida Senate that would only restore voting rights to eligible felons once the felon has paid all of their court fees. In September 2020, after billionaire Michael Bloomberg raised $16 million to pay 32,000 felons' court fees, which would make them eligible to vote in the 2020 elections, Moody asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate Bloomberg, claiming he potentially violated election laws.[31]

2020 presidential election

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During the 2020 presidential election, Politico described Moody as "one of Donald Trump's biggest surrogates" in Florida.[4] After Joe Biden won the election and Trump refused to concede, Moody took a leading role in aiding Trump's attempts to overturn the election.[19]

On December 9, 2020, Moody and 15 other state attorneys general announced their support for a lawsuit by Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, asking the Supreme Court of the United States to invalidate the presidential election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, which were all won by Biden.[32] There was no evidence of large-scale fraud in the election,[33][34] and the court decided 7-2 not to hear the Texas lawsuit.[35][36]

Moody was on the board of directors for the Rule of Law Defense Fund. In January 2021, the organization encouraged the gathering at the Capitol building to call for a halt on the counting of the Electoral College ballots, which they contended were fraudulent. After the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, Moody removed any references to the Rule of Law Defense Fund from her online biography.[19]

COVID-19 pandemic

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In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Moody sued the federal government and the CDC for instituting requirements that cruise ships require 95% of cruise passengers to be fully vaccinated to sail.[37][38]

Abortion Rights initiative

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Although nearly a million Floridians, 76% of them women, signed petitions to certify a 2024 ballot measure which would preserve and expand abortion rights, Moody petitioned to the state Supreme Court in January to keep state voters from being able to vote in its favor, claiming its language could mislead voters. Hundreds of Florida Republicans donated to help finance the initiative campaign.[39]

Personal life

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Moody is married to Justin Duralia, a deputy chief with the Plant City Police Department. They have two sons together.[40] Their elder son is serving in the United States Army.[41]

Electoral history

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2006 Thirteenth Judicial Court of Florida election, Non-partisan primary[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ashley Moody 41,522 39.08% N/A
Democratic Gary Dolgin 33,675 31.70% N/A
Independent Pat Courtney 31,042 29.22% N/A
Majority 7,847 7.38% N/A
Turnout 106,239
2006 Thirteenth Judicial Court of Florida election, General election[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ashley Moody 142,610 60.31% N/A
Democratic Gary Dolgin 93,854 39.69% N/A
Majority 48,756 20.62% N/A
Turnout 236,464
2018 Florida Attorney General election, Republican primary[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ashley Moody 882,028 56.80% N/A
Republican Frank White 670,823 43.20% N/A
Majority 211,205 13.60% N/A
Turnout 1,552,851
2018 Florida Attorney General election, General election[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ashley Moody 4,232,532 52.11% −2.96%
Democratic Sean Shaw 3,744,912 46.10% +4.09%
Independent Jeffrey Marc Siskind 145,296 1.79% N/A
Majority 487,620 6.01% −7.07%
Turnout 8,122,740
Republican hold
2022 Florida Attorney General election, General election[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ashley Moody (incumbent) 4,651,279 60.59% +8.48%
Democratic Aramis Ayala 3,025,943 39.41% −6.69%
Total votes 7,677,222 100.0%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b March, William. "Family tradition drives Ashley Moody in attorney general's race". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  2. ^ a b March, William (October 12, 2018). "Ashley Moody hopes to succeed Pam Bondi as attorney general". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "Campus notes". The Tampa Tribune. June 19, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Fineout, Gary. "Florida's top prosecutor once sued Trump. Now she's fighting for his reelection". Politico. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Administrative Office of the Courts > Judicial Directory > Ashley B. Moody > Profile". July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Henderson, John (July 6, 2018). "A conversation with AG candidate Ashley Moody". Panama City News Herald. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  7. ^ "Judicial Directory: Profile: Ashley B. Moody". Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Hillsborough County. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "Ashley B. Moody". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Governor Scott Appoints Judge Jennifer X. Gabbard to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court". Conference of County Court Judges of Florida. August 13, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Carlton: Judge abruptly quits — and is something big to come?". Tampa Bay Times. April 5, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Former Hillsborough Judge Ashley Moody files to run for Florida Attorney General". Tampa Bay Times. June 2, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Former Hillsborough judge Ashley Moody wins Republican nomination in attorney general race". 10NEWS. August 29, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "GOP candidate for Florida AG wasn't a "lifelong Democrat"". PolitiFact. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Ashley Moody elected Florida's attorney general". www.wctv.tv. Associated Press. November 7, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "FLORIDA". State AG Report. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "Moody defeats Ayala in race for attorney general". WFTV. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  17. ^ "Democratic lawmakers harangue Ashley Moody for Affordable Care Act challenge". Florida Politics. May 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  18. ^ "Florida Groups Fear Loss of Health Insurance Ahead Of Arguments In ACA Lawsuit". Health News Florida. October 30, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c "Florida's Ashley Moody worked with group linked to Capitol insurrection". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Gancarski, A.G. (December 20, 2019). "Ashley Moody argues against pot legalization initiative". Florida Politics. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Wilson, Kirby (April 22, 2021). "Florida marijuana legalization dealt blow by Florida Supreme Court". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  22. ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (April 22, 2021). "The Florida Supreme Court Won't Let Voters Legalize Recreational Marijuana". Slate. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  23. ^ Jaeger, Kyle (April 22, 2021). "Florida Supreme Court Kills 2022 Marijuana Legalization Initiative That Hundreds Of Thousands Had Signed". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  24. ^ Wilson, Kirby (June 17, 2021). "Florida Supreme Court issues another defeat to marijuana legalization". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Moline, Michael (June 17, 2021). "FL Supreme Court blocks a second pro-pot citizens initiative from the 2022 ballot". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Kam, Dara (June 27, 2023). "Florida's attorney general says recreational marijuana amendment is 'misleading to voters'". Orlando Weekly. News Service of Florida. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Jaeger, Kyle (June 27, 2023). "Florida Attorney General Argues That Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measure Misleads Voters In Brief To Supreme Court". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  28. ^ Sarkissian, Arek (April 1, 2024). "Florida Supreme Court approves ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana". Politico. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  29. ^ Wilson, Kirby; Ellenbogen, Romy (April 1, 2024). "Recreational weed will be on Florida's 2024 ballot, Supreme Court rules". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  30. ^ Knowles, Summer (November 1, 2018). "Amendment 4: Restores felons' rights". WESH. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  31. ^ Moreno, Edward (September 23, 2020). "Florida attorney general scrutinizing Bloomberg paying fines for felons to vote". The Hill. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  32. ^ Man, Anthony (December 9, 2020). "Florida joins Texas in seeking to overturn election results, in support of President Trump". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  33. ^ Pazniokas, Mark (December 13, 2020). "Voter fraud is real, just not on the scale claimed by Trump". The Connecticut Mirror.
  34. ^ "News Wrap: AG Barr says no evidence of large-scale election fraud". PBS NewsHour. December 1, 2020.
  35. ^ Ogles, Jacob (December 9, 2020). "Ashley Moody files brief supporting Texas suit seeking to invalidate election results". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  36. ^ Matthews, Chris (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court declines to hear Texas case, ending Trump's effort to overturn election". MarketWatch. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  37. ^ "Ashley Moody defends 'essential' vaccine passport suit against CDC". Florida Politics. June 14, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  38. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Florida fires back in Norwegian Cruise's challenge to vaccine 'passport' ban". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 9, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  39. ^ More than 200 Republicans have donated to get abortion on Florida ballots, Tampa Bay Times, Ivy Nyayieka, January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  40. ^ "Florida Attorney General – Attorney General Ashley Moody Bio". www.myfloridalegal.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  41. ^ "Who is Ashley Moody?". November 6, 2018.
  42. ^ "Hillsborough County 2006 Primary Election" (PDF). Vote Hillsborough. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  43. ^ "Hillsborough County 2006 General Election" (PDF). Vote Hillsborough. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  44. ^ "August 28, 2018 Primary Election Republican Primary". Florida Department of State. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  45. ^ "November 6, 2018 General Election". Florida Department of State. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  46. ^ "2022 General Election – Official Results: Attorney General". Florida Election Watch.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Florida Attorney General
2018, 2022 		Most recent
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Florida
2019–present 		Incumbent
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