Ashley Moody

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Ashley Moody
Official portrait, 2025
Ashley Moody
BornAshley Brooke Moody
3/28/1975
BirthplacePlant City, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, attorney
Known for38th Attorney General of Florida; U.S. Senator from Florida
EducationUniversity of Florida (BS, MS, JD), Stetson University (LLM)
Spouse(s)Justin Duralia
Children2

Ashley Brooke Moody (born March 28, 1975) is an American politician and attorney who's been serving as the junior United States senator from Florida since January 2025. She's a Republican who previously held the office of 38th Attorney General of Florida from 2019 to 2025. For about ten years before that, she worked as a circuit court judge in Hillsborough County.

She grew up in Plant City, Florida, in a family with serious legal roots. Her father, James S. Moody Jr., is a federal judge. Her career has taken her from civil litigation work to federal prosecution, then to the bench, then to Florida's top law enforcement position, and finally to the U.S. Senate. In January 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis picked her to fill the seat left vacant by Marco Rubio, who stepped down to become Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. She's running for the Republican nomination in the 2026 special election to keep the seat.[1]

Early Life

Ashley Brooke Moody was born on March 28, 1975, in Plant City, Florida. It's a small city in eastern Hillsborough County, known for agricultural heritage, especially strawberry farming.[2] Her family had deep connections to law and the courts. Her father, James S. Moody Jr., became a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. That background meant young Ashley grew up around talk of law and public service.[2]

Being around her father's work on the federal bench shaped who she became. She'd later say his career influenced her own decision to go into law and get involved in public life.[2]

From 1993 to 1998, Moody was registered as a Democrat. Then in 1998, she switched to the Republican Party. She's stayed there since.[2]

Education

At the University of Florida, Moody earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law. She then got a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.[3] That mix of credentials, spanning three Florida degrees plus an advanced law degree from Stetson, gave her the foundation for everything that followed. Private practice, federal prosecution, the judiciary, politics. It all built on that education.

Career

Early Legal Career

She started out doing civil litigation work in private practice. Then she moved into public service as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida. Federal cases were her specialty.[3][4] That combination of civil work and federal prosecution gave her range. It was the kind of experience that sticks with you.

Circuit Court Judge (2007–2017)

In 2006, Moody ran for circuit court judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, which covers Hillsborough County. She won. On January 2, 2007, she took office, replacing Judge Susan Sexton.[3] At the time, she was one of the youngest people ever to sit on a Florida circuit court bench.[2]

Over more than a decade on the bench, she handled all kinds of civil and criminal cases. That judicial record would become central to her later campaigns for higher office.[3][5]

In April 2017, she quit the circuit court suddenly. People immediately started wondering what came next.[6] Judge Jennifer Gabbard took her seat. Not long after, Moody announced she'd run for Attorney General of Florida.[7]

Attorney General of Florida (2019–2025)

She won the 2018 election for Attorney General and took office on January 8, 2019, succeeding Pam Bondi. Ron DeSantis was governor throughout her term.[2][8]

Affordable Care Act

As attorney general, Moody backed efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, the health care law President Barack Obama signed. Florida joined a multistate lawsuit against it. Democratic lawmakers criticized her for this, saying it'd hurt millions of Floridians who depended on the ACA's coverage.[9]

Recreational Cannabis Opposition

Moody was very public about opposing recreational cannabis legalization in Florida. In 2021, a proposed constitutional amendment faced a setback when the Florida Supreme Court ruled against its ballot language. Moody's office had pushed for that result.[10] The court delivered another defeat to marijuana legalization in June 2021.[11]

In 2024, the Florida Supreme Court approved a new ballot measure on recreational marijuana, letting voters decide in November. DeSantis opposed it. Moody continued fighting it throughout her time as attorney general.[12][13]

2020 Presidential Election and Texas v. Pennsylvania

During the 2020 presidential election, Moody publicly backed President Donald Trump's re-election campaign in Florida.[14] After the election, she joined the lawsuit Texas v. Pennsylvania. In that case, Texas asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the results in four swing states. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin had all gone to President-elect Joe Biden. The Supreme Court refused to hear it in December 2020.

Her involvement in post-election legal challenges got scrutiny. The Tampa Bay Times reported that she'd worked with a group tied to the January 6 Capitol breach. The details of that connection remained unclear.[15]

Vaccine Passport Ban and Cruise Industry

In 2021, DeSantis signed a law banning vaccine passports in Florida. Businesses couldn't require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Norwegian Cruise Line sued. Moody's office defended the state's law in court against the cruise line's challenge.[16]

Abortion-Related Legal Actions

During her time as attorney general, abortion fights in Florida heated up. In 2024, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights gained traction through petitions. Moody's office reviewed ballot initiatives and responded to them.[17]

United States Senator (2025–present)

Appointment

In January 2025, after Trump took office as President, Marco Rubio left his Senate seat to become Secretary of State. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody to fill the vacancy. She took the oath on January 21, 2025. Now she's Florida's junior senator, serving with senior Senator Rick Scott.[18] James Uthmeier took over as Attorney General.

Legislative Activity

In the Senate, Moody has worked alongside fellow Florida Senator Rick Scott. In December 2025, she and Scott co-introduced the Halo Act with Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. The bill would penalize people who obstruct immigration enforcement officers.[19]

Also in December, Moody and Scott voted against extending health care subsidies for three years. The measure lost.[20]

In September 2025, she and Scott wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. They wanted the Trump administration to keep blocking a global carbon tax from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They argued it threatened U.S. trade and national security.[21]

Early in 2026, Moody spoke up during a Senate hearing about the Netflix and Warner Bros. merger. She pressed Netflix representatives about their track record with controversial content. She specifically mentioned the French film Cuties.[22]

In February 2026, Moody traveled to Polk City to talk with farmers. They discussed relief for crops damaged by freezing temperatures and dry conditions.[23]

2026 Special Election

She's running for the Republican nomination in the 2026 special election to keep the seat. In January 2026, she talked to WUSF about her legislative goals and her campaign plans.[24]

Personal Life

Moody is married to Justin Duralia, who worked as an agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They have two children.[2] Her father, James S. Moody Jr., is a federal judge in the Middle District of Florida. The family's legal background comes up a lot in stories about her.[2]

She was registered as a Democrat from 1993 to 1998. Then she switched to the Republican Party and has stayed there since.[2]

Recognition

During her years on the circuit court bench, Moody got recognition for her work. She was noted as one of Florida's youngest circuit court judges at the time of her 2006 election.[2] Her 2018 election as Attorney General made her one of Florida's top Republican officials. Then her 2025 appointment to the U.S. Senate put her on the national stage.

She's moved from circuit judge to attorney general to U.S. senator. Florida newspapers have covered that path extensively. The Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald, Florida Politics, and Politico have all followed her career.[2][14][8]

References

  1. ↑ "Sen. Ashley Moody on her legislative goals for this year and more". 'WUSF}'. 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "Family tradition drives Ashley Moody in attorney general's race".Tampa Bay Times.2018-10-09.https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/10/09/family-tradition-drives-ashley-moody-in-attorney-generals-race/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Ashley B. Moody – Profile". 'Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Conversation with AG candidate Ashley Moody". 'News Herald}'. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Ashley B. Moody – Profile". 'Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Carlton judge abruptly quits — and is something big to come?".Tampa Bay Times.https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/carlton-judge-abruptly-quits-8212-and-is-something-big-to-come/2319135.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Former Hillsborough judge Ashley Moody files to run for Florida attorney general".Tampa Bay Times.https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/former-hillsborough-judge-ashley-moody-files-to-run-for-florida-attorney/2325935.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Miami Herald.https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article219892300.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Democratic lawmakers harangue Ashley Moody for Affordable Care Act challenge". 'Florida Politics}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Florida marijuana legalization effort dealt blow by Florida Supreme Court".Tampa Bay Times.2021-04-22.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/22/florida-marijuana-legalization-effort-dealt-blow-by-florida-supreme-court/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Florida Supreme Court issues another defeat to marijuana legalization".Tampa Bay Times.2021-06-17.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/06/17/florida-supreme-court-issues-another-defeat-to-marijuana-legalization/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Legal marijuana, weed, Florida amendment 2024, DeSantis".Tampa Bay Times.2024-04-01.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2024/04/01/legal-marijuana-weed-florida-amendment-2024-desantis/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Florida Supreme Court approves ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana".Politico.2024-04-01.https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/01/florida-supreme-court-approves-ballot-measure-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana-00150018.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Florida Ashley Moody Trump".Politico.2020-10-27.https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/florida-ashley-moody-trump-432617.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Florida's Ashley Moody worked with group linked to Capitol insurrection".Tampa Bay Times.2021-01-11.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/01/11/floridas-ashley-moody-worked-with-group-linked-to-capitol-insurrection/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Florida fires back in Norwegian Cruises challenge to vaccine passport ban".Tampa Bay Times.2021-07-28.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/07/28/florida-fires-back-in-norwegian-cruises-challenge-to-vaccine-passport-ban/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Abortion petition campaign finance donations Republicans amendment women".Tampa Bay Times.2024-01-24.https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2024/01/24/abortion-petition-campaign-finance-donations-republicans-amendment-women/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Sen. Ashley Moody on her legislative goals for this year and more". 'WUSF}'. 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sens. Ashley Moody, Marsha Blackburn with Halo Act to Establish Penalties for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Officers". 'Office of Senator Rick Scott}'. 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Ashley Moody, Rick Scott vote to kill extension of health care subsidies".Florida Politics.2025-12-11.https://floridapolitics.com/archives/769482-ashley-moody-rick-scott-vote-to-kill-extension-of-health-care-subsidies/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Sens. Rick Scott, Ashley Moody Ask Trump Admin to Continue Efforts to Block Harmful IMO Global Carbon Tax Proposal". 'Office of Senator Rick Scott}'. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Ashley Moody raises Cuties controversy in hearing about Netflix-Warner Bros. merger".Florida Politics.https://floridapolitics.com/archives/777869-ashley-moody-raises-cuties-controversy-in-hearing-about-netflix-warner-bros-merger/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Sen. Moody to meet with Polk City farmers about relief for freezing crops". 'WTSP}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Sen. Ashley Moody on her legislative goals for this year and more". 'WUSF}'. 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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