Amy Trask

Amy Trask (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 22. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. The Democratic primary for this office on August 18, 2026, was canceled.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a seventh‑generation Floridian, a mom, and someone who believes survival should be the floor, not the ceiling. I’ve survived violence, waited tables and bartended, and worked multiple jobs while in school, raising kids, and navigating the same broken systems that so many families in our district face. Those experiences shaped my commitment to practical, people‑first policy.

My professional background is in civil disagreement and dialogue across difference. I worked for years as an Undergraduate Fellow, Senior Fellow, and later a Landscape Analyst at the Harvard Safra Center for Ethics. I’ve also spoken at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where I shared strategies for bridging divides and fostering constructive dialogue. That work has helped me craft policy that brings people to the table and respects the stories of those most impacted.

In the legislative arena, I’ve authored bipartisan, implementable policy on child welfare in both the family law sector and foster system, domestic violence reform, and more. This year, two of my bills became Senate priorities, and one - the HAVEN Act - passed unanimously. It proposed the nation’s first tangible mechanism for victims of violence to discreetly notify police and strengthened protections under law.

I’m someone who never gave up, and who wants my children to see that when you recognize a problem, you act. I’m running because our community deserves a fighter who understands what we're facing and delivers.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I’m running because survival shouldn’t be the ceiling; it should be the the floor we build on. I know what it’s like to survive violence, work multiple jobs, raise kids, navigate broken systems, and still come up short- I did that as a single mom for years. That lived experience drives my commitment to crafting practical, bipartisan solutions that make life more stable, safe, and affordable for every family in our district.I’m a tested and proven policy‑maker who brings innovative solutions and the coalition-building skills required to turn them into law. I’ve authored bills strengthening child welfare in both the family sector and the foster care system, modernizing domestic violence laws, expanding access to healthcare solutions, and more. This year, two of my bills became Senate priorities, and one- the HAVEN Act - passed unanimously. It created the nation’s first tangible mechanism for victims of violence to discreetly notify police and see police response. My approach is simple: listen to the people closest to the problem, build coalitions, and design solutions that are fiscally responsible, trauma‑informed, and administratively feasible.Our district is winnable — and this race matters. In a +5 district, in a state where recent special elections have shown even stronger margins, we have a real opportunity to elect someone who will fight for our community and protect us from the downstream impacts of federal dysfunction. State leaders are the ones who can mitigate harm, expand access, and strengthen the systems families rely on. I’m running to make sure our community has a voice that puts people first and delivers real results.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m deeply passionate about policies that strengthen families, protect survivors, and make our systems work the way people expect them to. Much of my work has focused on child welfare, healthcare, education, and domestic violence reform- areas where gaps in the law have real consequences for kids and families. I’m also committed to upholding home rule, improving access to mental and physical healthcare, especially in rural communities, and to designing practical, affordable solutions that help families build stability.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I’ve been shaped by many people throughout my life — family, teachers, mentors, coworkers, and community members who showed up for me in different ways at different times. Each of them taught me something essential, and I wouldn’t be who I am without that collective influence. There isn’t one person whose example stands above all the others; instead, I carry pieces of wisdom from many people who helped me grow.

Historically, there are countless leaders whose integrity and perseverance I admire, people like Eleanor Roosevelt, who demonstrated what it means to lead with courage, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. I look up to people who lead with courage and compassion: those who step into hard spaces not for recognition, but because they believe their community deserves better. I admire leaders who listen first, who build coalitions instead of silos, and who stay focused on the people most affected by policy decisions. I try to follow the example of those who use their voice to lift others, who stay grounded in their values and in the belief that public service is about lifting others, and who never lose sight of the human impact behind every line of statute. Their example is the one I try to follow.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should lead with integrity, humility, and a deep respect for the people they serve. The job requires listening more than speaking, grounding decisions in real lived experience, and being willing to learn from those closest to the challenges. It also demands transparency, a commitment to fairness, and the courage to do what is right even when it is not politically convenient. Above all, an elected official should approach every issue with empathy and a belief that government should make life more stable, safe, and dignified for every family. Survival should the floor we build on, not the ceiling we aspire to reach.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of this office are to write and pass laws that improve people’s lives, to ensure state systems function as intended, and to serve as a bridge between communities and the institutions that affect them. That means being accessible, responsive, and accountable. It means understanding the practical realities of implementation, not just the theory of policy. It means ensuring that each Floridian has access to resources that help them do more than survive, but thrive. It means ensuring Floridians have access to protections at the beginning- and safety nets to catch them-that help them live lives free from violence. And it means working across differences to craft solutions that are fiscally responsible, administratively feasible, and grounded in the needs of the district.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Legislatively, I want to be known for crafting out‑of‑the‑box solutions to Florida’s affordability and healthcare crises, and for strengthening and modernizing our domestic violence laws so survivors and children are better protected.

Before being elected, as a survivor and constituent, I authored the HAVEN Act, the Survivor Self Defense Act, Safe Shelter Act, and Fostering with Dignity Act, with the first and last becoming Senate priorities, and the first passing unanimously. Each of my bills were bipartisan solutions to major DV holes in the law. I also had six other bills put into drafting, and worked bi-partisanly on each of these pieces of legislation.

Personally, I want my legacy to be one of perseverance. I want my kids to grow up knowing that when something was wrong, I didn’t look away — I did everything I could to fix it. I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up on her community, her values, or the belief that government can and should work for everyday people.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Growing up, I made five dollars a day opening the front door, seating folks, and serving slices of pie at my grandparents’ restaurant, Flora and Ella's, in LaBelle, Florida every holiday break I spent with them. They were known for their pies and Southern cuisine, and some of my favorite memories stem from my time there.

In high school, I worked in fast food and I also worked in my school cafeteria serving faculty and other students as an elective to earn some extra money. Those early jobs taught me the value of hard work, humility, and treating every person with respect: lessons that have stayed with me ever since.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the biggest struggles in my life was navigating instability — both as a young person and when I was a single mom raising two kids whilst in school and working multiple jobs. I’ve survived violence, relied on food banks, juggled childcare challenges, and spent years trying to make systems work that weren’t built with families like mine in mind.

Those experiences were incredibly difficult, but they shaped my understanding of how policy meets real life. They taught me resilience, empathy, and how systems actually function for families on the ground. They are a big part of why I focus on designing solutions that are trauma‑informed, accessible, and grounded in the realities families face every day.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The executive and legislative branches are designed to be separate and co‑equal. The ideal relationship is one that respects the autonomy and constitutional role of each body while working together to advance policies that reflect the needs of every constituent. Healthy governance requires collaboration, transparency, and a shared commitment to serving the public, not unilateral demands or political pressure. When both branches operate with mutual respect, Florida is better positioned to meet the challenges ahead.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Florida’s greatest challenges will be its tribalism, the affordability crisis, and the strain on our healthcare and housing systems. These issues are interconnected: families are being priced out of stability, rural communities face shrinking access to care, and political polarization makes it harder to solve shared problems. Addressing these challenges will require practical, bipartisan solutions that strengthen our workforce, protect our rights, expand access to essential services, and rebuild trust in government.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Policymaking requires having a table that everyone is welcome at — and creating new tables when that isn’t the case. We should always seek to represent every voice and lead with every story in mind, which means listening to alternative viewpoints. Whenever feasible, yes, we should find out‑of‑the‑box solutions that honor both sides of the coin, or meet in the middle, or build a new road entirely. But we should also feel comfortable building our own table when there’s no place setting at the one we’re accustomed to, or when we’re expected to beg for a seat. Compromise is valuable, but dignity and representation are non‑negotiable.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I’m proud to be endorsed by several respected leaders and community advocates. My campaign has been endorsed by State Representative Dr. Anna Eskamani, State Representative Rita Harris, and Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman.

I am also endorsed by Alachua County School Board Member Dr. Sarah Rockwell and School Board Chair Thomas Vu.

N’spire Florida has also endorsed my campaign.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The first major historical event I remember is 9/11. I was eight years old, a year younger than my youngest child is now. I was in art class when my favorite art teacher dropped her coffee mug, shattering it on the floor and fell to her knees, as she watched it unfold on the news on our classroom TV. A few minutes later, the principal's voice came over the school intercom telling us that we'd all be going home early that day to be with our families, though he didn't tell us why. I saw the shock and the fear in every adult that I loved around me, and I remember feeling the same way as a result.

What stayed with me most, however, was how people came together that day, and in the days and weeks afterward. Neighbors checked on each other. Families opened their doors so folks had a safe place to sleep or eat. Restaurants fed the firefighters and first responders and those searching for their loved ones. Communities stepped up entirely to supported each other. There was a sense that we all had a responsibility to look out for each other.

My parents ensured that I saw both images: the fear and devastation, and the collective belonging and resilience that followed. That early memory shaped my understanding of public service and the importance of community, especially in moments of crisis.

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