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Op-ed

The Conservative Case for Ashley Moody

By Sam RomainChairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, a Plant City native, former judge and two-term Attorney General, is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate on Nov. 3, 2026.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is the Republican nominee for United States Senate in Florida, and she is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Every Polk County voter will see this race on the ballot in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Sen. Ashley Moody was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and sworn in on January 21, 2025, and this fall voters choose who serves the final two years of the term Marco Rubio left when he became Secretary of State.

Quick facts: Sen. Ashley Moody

Who is Ashley Moody?

Ashley Moody was born and raised in Plant City, just across the county line from Lakeland. She earned three degrees at the University of Florida and began her legal career in commercial litigation at Holland & Knight, volunteering in her spare time to help domestic violence victims get protection in court.

She then became a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office, where she prosecuted drug, firearm and fraud cases. In 2006, at 31, she was elected a circuit judge in Hillsborough County and became the youngest judge in Florida. Her husband, Justin, is a career law enforcement officer, and they have two sons. During President Trump's first term she was appointed to the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.

What did Ashley Moody do as Florida Attorney General?

Moody served as Florida's Attorney General from 2019 to 2025. Her record is the record of a prosecutor:

What has Ashley Moody done for Polk County?

In 2024, Moody's statewide prosecutors worked with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and FDLE to dismantle a Lakeland-based fentanyl trafficking organization. Deputies arrested 64 people, and her office charged nine with racketeering and fentanyl trafficking. Investigators seized 742 grams of fentanyl that the ring had sold across Polk and Osceola counties.

"This case is yet another example of how Sheriff Grady Judd and his deputies are leaders in helping us remove deadly drugs from our streets," Moody said. "That is enough poison to kill 371,000 Floridians, and I have no doubt that this drug-interdiction operation saved lives."

How has Ashley Moody fought for Polk citrus?

Citrus greening and hurricanes have cut Florida's orange crop, and an outdated federal rule made it worse. The FDA required pasteurized not-from-concentrate orange juice to reach a sugar level, or Brix, of 10.5 percent, which forced processors to blend in imported juice when Florida fruit fell short. Shortly after taking office, Moody filed the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act to lower the standard to 10 percent, a change that does not make a discernible difference in taste or nutrition. Rep. Scott Franklin of Lakeland carried the House version.

She made the case in Polk, at the Florida's Natural Visitors Center in Lake Wales, and pressed the Trump administration to act without waiting on Congress. On July 17, 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came to Lakeland to announce the final FDA rule lowering the standard, so more Florida oranges qualify and less foreign juice is needed. "Today is proof that the juice was worth the squeeze," Moody said. "Florida's citrus farmers are an integral part of Florida's culture, and I will always fight to ensure they have the support they need to continue growing and making a living."

The Florida Department of Citrus called it "a great day in the State of Florida." Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Matt Joyner said Moody's bill "comes at a critical time" for an industry rebuilding from greening and hurricanes.

Does Ashley Moody stand with Polk law enforcement?

She also chose Sheriff Judd as keynote speaker for the 2024 Human Trafficking Summit, calling him "one of the greatest law enforcement leaders in the nation."

What has Ashley Moody done as U.S. Senator?

In less than two years in Washington, Sen. Ashley Moody has helped turn conservative priorities into law:

"As stewards of our fellow taxpayers' dollars, we owe it to them to be sure their hard-earned money is well spent and NOT WASTED," Moody said when that bill was signed.

Who has endorsed Ashley Moody?

President Donald J. Trump endorsed Moody on Truth Social, writing that she "is doing a tremendous job representing the incredible people of Florida" and "has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" She is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican Party of Florida.

Law enforcement is behind her. 64 Florida sheriffs, including every elected Republican sheriff, endorsed her, along with all 15 Republican state attorneys. The Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police back her too. "As a steadfast champion of law enforcement, Ashley has consistently fought to protect and support our members," the PBA said. She also has the support of Sen. Rick Scott, Associated Industries of Florida, and Florida congressmen including Laurel Lee, whose district covers western Lakeland.

On October 1, Vice President JD Vance rallied in Lakeland for Moody and Byron Donalds. She won the August 18 Republican primary over three challengers.

Why should Polk County vote for Ashley Moody?

  • She is one of us. A fifth-generation Floridian, she grew up in Plant City, right next door to Polk County.
  • She has already fought for Polk. Her prosecutors and Sheriff Judd's deputies took a Lakeland fentanyl ring off our streets.
  • She saved Polk citrus from a bad rule. Her orange juice bill led to the FDA rule change announced in Lakeland.
  • She delivers. In under two years she has voted for tax cuts on tips and overtime and helped pass laws on fentanyl and government waste.
  • She backs the badge. A former prosecutor and judge married to a career law enforcement officer, she sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which reviews every federal judicial nomination.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ashley Moody a conservative? Yes. She is a former prosecutor endorsed by President Trump and 64 Florida sheriffs. She voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and cosponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, and as Attorney General she fought the Biden administration's open-border policies.

What has Ashley Moody done for Polk County? As Attorney General, her prosecutors and Sheriff Judd's deputies broke up a Lakeland fentanyl ring. As Senator, she won the orange juice standard change that helps Polk citrus growers.

Who endorsed Ashley Moody? President Donald J. Trump, 64 Florida sheriffs, the Florida PBA, the Florida FOP, the Republican Party of Florida and the Polk County Republican Executive Committee.

When is the election for U.S. Senate in Florida? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting in Polk County runs October 19 through October 31.

Is Ashley Moody the incumbent? Yes. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her, and she was sworn in on January 21, 2025.

How long is the term? The winner serves the remaining two years of the term that began in January 2023.

What committees does Sen. Moody serve on? Judiciary; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; the Joint Economic Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging.

How to vote in Polk County

Early voting runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 6 PM at any of Polk County's 10 early voting sites. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. For locations and vote-by-mail details, see the Polk County GOP Voter Guide.

Vote Ashley Moody for United States Senate.

Want to help? Volunteer today at polk.gop/volunteer.

Sources

Paid political advertisement paid for by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd; Box 108, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Portrait of Sam Romain

About the author

Sam Romain

Chairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Sam Romain is Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the county party organization representing registered Republicans across Polk County's precincts. He writes here on behalf of the committee on elections, county governance and the issues facing Polk County voters.

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