Ashley Moody
Ashley Moody, born 1975 in Plant City, earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida and later served as a federal prosecutor in the Middle District of Florida. She was elected a Hillsborough County circuit judge in 2006, then elected Florida Attorney General in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to the U.S. Senate on January 16, 2025, to fill the seat vacated when Marco Rubio became Secretary of State; she was sworn in January 21, 2025. She serves on the Judiciary, Commerce, Armed Services and Special Aging committees. She won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary with 75.3% over Chris Gleason (about 15%), Neelam Perry and Ernie Rivera.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with 75.3%; Chris Gleason second with about 15% (Spectrum News 13; CBS News)
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Strongly agrees· based on record
Moody voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act and described it as 'the largest tax cut for the working and middle class in history,' highlighting no tax on most tips and overtime and relief for seniors on Social Security income. Her campaign lists the economy and tax relief among its core themes.
"We finally have a leader back in the White House to secure the border, fight the opioid epidemic, implement the largest tax cut for the working class in history."
Housing affordability Leans agree· based on record
Moody's first Senate bill, the HELPER Act, would create an FHA home-loan program for law-enforcement officers, firefighters, other first responders and K-12 teachers with no down payment and no monthly mortgage-insurance premium. She has not proposed broader housing subsidies, zoning changes or rent measures.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Moody has made border security and immigration enforcement a centerpiece of her Senate work and campaign. She introduced the Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act, co-introduced the White House-backed REMOVE Act to conclude removal proceedings within 15 days, and filed the RIPPLE Act to expand the 287(g) state-local enforcement program. Haitian TPS advocates in Miami have pressed her to protect TPS holders from deportation.
Abortion Strongly disagrees· based on record
Moody has pledged to be a pro-life lawmaker. In the Senate she introduced the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, sponsored the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and cosponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. SBA Pro-Life America tracks her as pro-life; Reproductive Freedom for All scores her record as opposed to abortion rights.
Guns Strongly disagrees· based on record
Moody cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in the Senate. As Florida Attorney General she joined a 26-state lawsuit to block a Biden-administration rule expanding background checks at gun shows, calling it federal overreach, and she petitioned the Florida Supreme Court against a proposed assault-weapons-ban ballot initiative. No specific statement on Florida's red-flag law or 21 purchase age was found.
Health care Strongly disagrees· based on record
In December 2025 Moody voted against a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies; Florida has about 4.7 million ACA marketplace enrollees. She voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated reduces federal Medicaid spending by roughly $1 trillion over a decade. She said the shutdown fight over subsidies was 'avoidable' and blamed Democrats for 'grandstanding.'
Education & school choice Strongly agrees· based on record
Moody is co-chair of National School Choice Week, cosponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act (a federal tax-credit scholarship program), and held a Tampa news conference with Education Secretary Linda McMahon touting the school-choice provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She cites Florida's universal school-choice program as a national model.
Environment & water Leans agree· based on record
Moody introduced the American Shores Protection Act to extend the ban on oil and gas drilling off Florida's coasts through 2032 and led a bipartisan Florida delegation letter to President Trump opposing drilling off Florida, citing tourism, the environment and the Gulf Test Range. No statement was found on broader conservation-land, water-quality or climate-resilience trade-offs with development.
Elections & voting Strongly disagrees· based on record
Moody cosponsored the SAVE Act / SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship and photo ID for federal elections, and as Attorney General led a 22-state coalition urging the Senate to pass it. In 2026 she pushed a combined voter-ID and congressional stock-trading-ban bill. As AG in 2020 she joined the Texas lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn results in four states.
"The SAVE Act is important legislation that ensures only Americans vote in American elections."
Crime & policing Strongly agrees· based on record
A former prosecutor and judge, Moody sits on the Judiciary Committee, where during her first Police Week the committee advanced an eight-bill law-enforcement package she promoted that boosts local police investment and officer benefits. She is a cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act creating new federal crimes and mandatory minimums for assaulting officers. The Florida Police Chiefs Association and other law-enforcement groups have endorsed her.
Gender identity laws Strongly agrees· based on record
As Attorney General, Moody sued the Biden administration over a federal rule barring discrimination based on gender identity in health care, arguing it would force doctors to provide gender-affirming treatments to minors. Gov. DeSantis cited that record when appointing her, and in a 2025 Senate hearing she sharply questioned an LGBTQ legal advocate over gender-affirming care for minors.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· stated position
Moody has said the U.S. must 'bring back energy dominance' in support of the Trump administration's fossil-fuel-focused energy policies, and as Attorney General she criticized California's 'Green New Deal' policies in a Supreme Court filing over interstate emissions lawsuits. She simultaneously opposes oil and gas drilling off Florida's coasts (American Shores Protection Act). No statement was found on renewable-energy incentives or utility-rate oversight specifically.
"We've got to bring back energy dominance."
Tariffs & trade Strongly agrees· based on record
On April 2, 2025, Moody voted against S.J.Res. 37, the resolution (passed 51-48) to terminate the national emergency used to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. The same day she praised President Trump's 'Liberation Day' reciprocal-tariff announcement, saying the era of America 'being taken advantage of is over.' She and Sen. Rick Scott have also urged the administration to use trade leverage against a proposed international shipping levy.
"It's liberation day in America! Today, @POTUS sent a message to the world that the era of America being taken advantage of is over."
Ukraine Leans disagree· stated position
In February 2022 Moody condemned Russia's invasion and said 'America must always stand for freedom.' In February 2025, after the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office meeting, she wrote that under Biden the U.S. 'poured billions of taxpayer dollars into Ukraine with no clear end to the war in sight' and that 'America is not your piggy bank,' thanking President Trump for pursuing peace.
"America is not your piggy bank."
Trump administration Strongly agrees· stated position
Moody has closely aligned herself with President Trump, who gave her his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.' She said she is 'honored' to 'work together to bring America into the Golden Age and deliver the America First agenda,' and has appeared with Trump at events including in The Villages.
"I am honored by the endorsement of President Donald Trump as we work together to bring America into the Golden Age and deliver the America First agenda."
Veterans Strongly agrees· based on record
Moody introduced the Veterans Bill of Rights Act and the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act ($10 million a year in VA grants for outdoor programs aimed at reducing veteran suicide), cosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act to give combat-injured retirees full DOD retirement and VA disability pay, and supported the VETS Opportunity Act and Restore VA Accountability Act.
No public position found on 1 issue
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Social Security & Medicare. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Positions on issues outside this office's scope (1)
Marijuana Leans disagree· based on record
As Attorney General, Moody asked the Florida Supreme Court to keep recreational-marijuana legalization initiatives off the ballot in 2019 (2020 cycle) and 2023 (2024 cycle, Amendment 3), arguing the ballot language was misleading; the court allowed Amendment 3 on the ballot 5-2. As a senator she did not sign a 2025-26 letter by Republican colleagues (which Sen. Rick Scott signed) opposing the Trump administration's move to reschedule marijuana. No statement on federal legalization was found.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Offshore drilling moratorium (American Shores Protection Act) — Codify and extend through 2032 the ban on oil and gas drilling off Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts; she calls it a top 2026 legislative goal.
- Voter ID paired with congressional stock-trading ban — Pushed the Senate in 2026 to pass a combined bill requiring voter ID/proof of citizenship and banning stock trading by members of Congress.
- HELPER Act home loans for first responders and teachers — Create an FHA loan program with no down payment or monthly mortgage insurance for police, firefighters, EMTs and K-12 teachers.
- Kennedy Space Center and aerospace workforce — Says she passed legislation in 2025 supporting Kennedy Space Center and backs expanding Florida's technical/aerospace workforce.
- Opioid and fentanyl enforcement — Cites litigating Florida's multibillion-dollar opioid settlements as AG and lists fighting the opioid epidemic among her Senate priorities.
- Placement of unaccompanied migrant children (Stop GAPS Act) — Require HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement to coordinate with states before placing unaccompanied migrant children with sponsors.
- FEMA disaster reimbursements for Florida — Announced securing more than $1.5 billion in delayed FEMA disaster-recovery reimbursements for Florida in 2026 and pressed the FEMA nominee on Florida's outstanding funds.
- Blocking a proposed international shipping levy — With Sen. Rick Scott, urged the administration to use trade leverage to block an International Maritime Organization carbon-pricing framework she says would raise costs at Florida ports.
- Flood Insurance Relief Act (tax deduction for flood premiums) — Create a non-refundable federal tax deduction for flood-insurance premiums paid through NFIP or private insurers; introduced with Sen. Rick Scott in July 2025.
- 'Energy dominance' — Backs the Trump administration's push to expand domestic energy production ('bring back energy dominance') while opposing drilling off Florida's coast.
- Tax cut on Social Security income — Cites the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act's tax cuts 'on tips, overtime and Social Security income' as an accomplishment; no statement found on Social Security benefit levels or solvency.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025), which extended the 2017 tax cuts, added deductions for tips, overtime and seniors, and reduced projected federal Medicaid spending by about $1 trillion over ten years per CBO-based analyses.
- Voted in December 2025 against a three-year extension of enhanced ACA premium subsidies; Florida Democrats and Nixon have criticized the vote, citing roughly 440,000 Floridians who dropped ACA coverage after the subsidies lapsed in January 2026.
- Introduced the Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act and co-introduced the REMOVE Act and RIPPLE Act (287(g) expansion) to speed deportations and expand state/local immigration enforcement.
- Introduced the American Shores Protection Act (Dec 2025) to extend the offshore drilling moratorium off Florida through 2032, with bipartisan cosponsors.
- Cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act; introduced the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.
- As Attorney General (2019-2025), negotiated opioid settlements including more than $870 million with CVS, Teva and Allergan as part of a roughly $3.1 billion total; an appeals court later questioned her authority to settle claims on behalf of local governments.
- As Attorney General in December 2020, joined 16 other Republican AGs supporting the Texas lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 presidential results in four states; the court dismissed the case.
- As Attorney General, asked the Florida Supreme Court to strike recreational-marijuana ballot initiatives (2019 and 2023) and joined a 26-state suit against the Biden gun-show background-check rule.
- Criticism: an Out of the Swamp PAC ad (Nov 2025) said she 'sided with Trump' on votes affecting FEMA, National Weather Service and disaster-aid funding; her office says she has secured more than $2.3 billion in FEMA reimbursements for Florida.
- Criticism: Angie Nixon alleges that as AG Moody transferred $10 million in taxpayer funds intended for children's health care to a political committee; Florida Democrats have also criticized her support for DOGE cuts affecting Social Security Administration staffing.
- Endorsed by President Trump in July 2025 and won the Aug 18, 2026 GOP primary with 75.3%.
- Voted Nay on S.J.Res. 37 (April 2, 2025), the resolution to terminate the national emergency underlying tariffs on Canadian imports; it passed 51-48 with four Republicans joining Democrats.
- Introduced the Flood Insurance Relief Act with Sen. Rick Scott (July 2025) to create a tax deduction for flood-insurance premiums.
- Fact-checks: PolitiFact (Aug 21, 2026) found her claim tying Nixon to the full Democratic Socialists of America platform misleading; PolitiFact (Aug 13, 2026) separately examined Alexander Vindman's claims about her role, as Attorney General, in the Hope Florida / $10 million Medicaid-settlement matter.
- Voted for H.R. 1 (July 1, 2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts and added Medicaid work requirements; the Senate vote was 51-50.Sources: H.R.1, 119th Congress
- As Attorney General, unsuccessfully asked the Florida Supreme Court to keep the 2024 recreational-marijuana amendment (Amendment 3) and the abortion-rights amendment (Amendment 4) off the ballot.
Endorsements (as reported)
- President Donald Trump
- U.S. Sen. Rick Scott
- Republican Party of Florida
- Florida Police Chiefs Association
- Florida Realtors