Jared Moskowitz

Jared Moskowitz
Born	Jared Evan Moskowitz 18 12, 1980
Birthplace	Coral Springs, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	Gun safety legislation after Parkland shooting, Florida COVID-19 emergency response
Education	George Washington University (BA) Nova Southeastern University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Leah Rifkin
Website	[moskowitz.house.gov Official site]

Jared Evan Moskowitz (born December 18, 1980) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 23rd congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Moskowitz has built a political career rooted in South Florida, where he grew up in the Coral Springs–Parkland area and rose through multiple levels of state and local government before entering Congress. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2012 to 2019, representing the 97th district, and was subsequently appointed director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019, a role he held through April 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a brief stint on the Broward County Commission in 2022, Moskowitz won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding Ted Deutch. In Congress, he has drawn attention for his advocacy on gun safety legislation, emergency management policy, and a willingness to break with his party on select foreign policy and national security matters.

Early Life

Jared Evan Moskowitz was born on December 18, 1980, in Coral Springs, Florida, a planned suburban city in Broward County. He grew up in the Coral Springs–Parkland area of South Florida, a community that would later become central to his political identity and legislative focus. The region, situated in the northwestern part of Broward County, is characterized by its family-oriented suburban neighborhoods and strong public school system.

Moskowitz's connection to public service in Broward County predates his own political career. Growing up in the area, he developed ties to the community that would inform his later work in the Florida legislature and in emergency management. His family's roots in South Florida gave him a familiarity with the region's unique challenges, including hurricane preparedness, rapid urban growth, and the complexities of governing in one of the most populous counties in the United States.

The Coral Springs–Parkland area would take on a far more somber significance in Moskowitz's life and career following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018, which killed 17 people. As a state legislator representing the area at the time, Moskowitz became one of the most vocal advocates for gun safety reforms in the Florida legislature, a role that drew national attention and shaped the trajectory of his subsequent political career.

Education

Moskowitz attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently returned to South Florida to pursue a legal education, earning his Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad College of Law, located in Davie, Florida. His legal training would serve as the foundation for both his career as an attorney and his work as a legislator drafting and analyzing policy in the Florida House of Representatives and later in the U.S. Congress.

Career

Florida House of Representatives (2012–2019)

Moskowitz first won election to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2012, representing the 97th district, which encompassed the Coral Springs–Parkland area of Broward County. He succeeded Martin David Kiar in the seat. During his time in the state legislature, Moskowitz served multiple terms and became known as a pragmatic Democrat willing to work across party lines on issues affecting his constituents.

One of the defining episodes of Moskowitz's tenure in the Florida House came in the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018. The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland—located in the district Moskowitz represented—killed 14 students and three staff members, and wounded 17 others. As the state legislator representing the grieving community, Moskowitz became a central figure in the legislative response to the tragedy.

In the weeks following the shooting, Moskowitz was among the Florida lawmakers who pushed for the passage of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which Governor Rick Scott signed into law in March 2018. The legislation raised the minimum age for purchasing firearms in Florida from 18 to 21, imposed a three-day waiting period on gun purchases, banned bump stocks, and provided funding for school safety improvements and mental health services. The bill also established the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, which allowed certain school personnel to carry firearms after completing training. Moskowitz was actively involved in shaping amendments to the bill during the legislative process.

Years later, Moskowitz continued to speak publicly about the Parkland shooting and the importance of maintaining the legislative protections that followed. In February 2026, on the eighth anniversary of the shooting, Moskowitz expressed confidence that the gun control measures enacted in the wake of the tragedy would endure in Florida and emphasized the ongoing need for lawmakers to remain committed to protecting schools.

Moskowitz served in the Florida House until January 2019, when he departed to take on a new role in state government. He was succeeded in the 97th district by Dan Daley.

Director of Florida Division of Emergency Management (2019–2021)

In December 2018, newly elected Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he would appoint Moskowitz, a Democrat, to serve as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Moskowitz officially assumed the role on January 15, 2019, succeeding Wes Maul. The bipartisan appointment reflected Moskowitz's reputation as a pragmatic legislator capable of working across political divides, and it placed him at the helm of the state agency responsible for coordinating Florida's response to natural disasters and other emergencies.

During his tenure at FDEM, Moskowitz oversaw recovery efforts related to Hurricane Michael, which had devastated the Florida Panhandle in October 2018 shortly before his appointment. The federal government increased funding for Hurricane Michael recovery during this period, and Moskowitz played a role in coordinating the distribution of aid and rebuilding efforts in the affected communities.

The most significant challenge of Moskowitz's tenure at FDEM came with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. As director of the state's emergency management division, Moskowitz was responsible for coordinating Florida's logistical response to the pandemic, including the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other critical medical supplies. The role thrust Moskowitz into the national spotlight as states competed for scarce resources amid a global health crisis.

Moskowitz drew particular attention in March and April 2020 for his public criticism of corporations he accused of diverting medical supplies overseas during the pandemic. He publicly called out 3M for selling N95 masks to foreign buyers rather than prioritizing domestic needs, a stance that garnered significant media coverage. Moskowitz also raised alarms about the state's preparedness for the confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Atlantic hurricane season, warning about the potential strain on ICU beds and ventilator supplies if Florida were to face a major hurricane while the pandemic was ongoing.

Moskowitz served as FDEM director until April 30, 2021, and was succeeded by Kevin Guthrie. After leaving the position, he was reported to have continued in an advisory capacity on COVID-19 response for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Broward County Commission (2022)

Following his departure from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Moskowitz was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve on the Broward County Commission, representing the 8th district. He assumed the seat on January 12, 2022, succeeding Barbara Sharief. His tenure on the commission was brief, as Moskowitz resigned on November 29, 2022, to prepare for his incoming role in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded on the commission by Robert McKinzie.

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

Election

In 2022, Moskowitz ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 23rd congressional district, seeking to succeed Ted Deutch, who had announced he would not seek re-election. The district, as redrawn following the 2020 census, encompassed portions of Broward County and Palm Beach County in South Florida. Moskowitz won the election and took office on January 3, 2023.

Tenure in Congress

In Congress, Moskowitz has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat with a focus on emergency management, gun safety, and government accountability. His background as a former emergency management director has informed his legislative priorities, particularly on issues related to FEMA and disaster preparedness.

Moskowitz has been noted for his willingness to diverge from the Democratic Party on certain votes, particularly on foreign policy and national security matters. In February 2026, Moskowitz voted against a resolution that would have blocked military action against Iran, breaking with the majority of House Democrats. He explained his opposition to the war powers resolution in comments to media outlets, placing him alongside a small group of Democrats who sided with Republicans on the measure.

During a partial government shutdown in February 2026, Moskowitz drew attention for his position on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He defended the decision by some Democrats not to fund DHS, citing what he described as mismanagement at the department under Secretary Kristi Noem. Moskowitz publicly called for Noem's resignation, alleging that she had "destroyed" FEMA and DHS, claims he made in appearances on multiple media outlets including CBS News and Fox Business.

Fundraising and Re-election Prospects

As of late 2025, Moskowitz's congressional seat was considered a potential target by Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, particularly amid discussions about redistricting in Florida. In the third quarter of 2025, Moskowitz raised $372,000, outraising one primary challenger and four Republican opponents for his seat. By the end of 2025, he reported having approximately $1 million in his campaign war chest for the defense of his congressional seat, although his fundraising totals trailed those of some other Democrats considered to be top targets nationally.

In September 2025, Moskowitz stated publicly that he was not considering a run for the U.S. Senate, expressing his preference to seek re-election to his House seat representing Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Personal Life

Moskowitz is married to Leah Rifkin. The couple resides in South Florida.

Moskowitz is Jewish, and his faith has informed some of his political positions, particularly regarding issues related to Israel and combating antisemitism. His vote against the Iran war powers resolution in February 2026 was reported in the context of his stance on Middle Eastern policy.

The Parkland shooting of February 14, 2018, had a personal dimension for Moskowitz beyond his role as the community's state legislator. He has spoken publicly on multiple occasions about the lasting impact the tragedy has had on him and on the Coral Springs–Parkland community. On the eighth anniversary of the shooting in 2026, Moskowitz reaffirmed his commitment to gun safety and school protection measures, noting the importance of ensuring that the legislative response to the tragedy remains in force.

Legacy

Moskowitz's career has been shaped by two defining events in recent Florida history: the Parkland school shooting and the COVID-19 pandemic. As the state legislator representing the Parkland community at the time of the 2018 mass shooting, Moskowitz played a direct role in the legislative response that produced one of the most comprehensive gun safety packages passed by any state in the aftermath of a mass shooting. His advocacy for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act placed him among a group of Florida lawmakers who crossed traditional partisan boundaries on gun policy, with the legislation receiving support from both Democratic and Republican legislators and being signed by Republican Governor Rick Scott.

His bipartisan appointment by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to lead the Florida Division of Emergency Management was itself a notable political development, reflecting a degree of cross-party cooperation that has become increasingly uncommon in American politics. Moskowitz's management of the state's pandemic response, including his public battles over PPE procurement and his warnings about the intersection of hurricane season and the COVID-19 crisis, contributed to his national profile and established his credentials on emergency management policy.

In Congress, Moskowitz has continued to be identified as a moderate Democrat representing a competitive South Florida district. His willingness to break with his party on certain foreign policy votes, combined with his advocacy on emergency management and gun safety, has positioned him as a member whose political identity is not easily categorized along strict partisan lines.