Gary Farmer (Florida politician)

Gary Michael Farmer Jr. (born April 29, 1964) is an American attorney and former Democratic politician from Florida. He served as a member of the Florida Senate from 2016 until 2022, representing parts of eastern Broward County.[1] He was the Senate's minority leader from 2020 to 2021.

For the actor and musician, see Gary Farmer.

Gary Farmer
Minority Leader of the Florida Senate
In office
November 16, 2020 – April 28, 2021
Preceded byAudrey Gibson
Succeeded byLauren Book
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 34th district
In office
November 8, 2016 – November 8, 2022
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byShevrin Jones
Personal details
Born
Gary Michael Farmer Jr.

(1964-04-29) April 29, 1964
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseStacey Rogers
Children2
EducationFlorida State University (BS)
University of Toledo (JD)

Life and career

Farmer was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended Florida State University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 1986. Afterwards, he attended the University of Toledo College of Law in Ohio, graduating in 1991.[1] He returned to Florida to practice law, and founded the law firm Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos and Lehrman, specializing in consumer protection litigation.

He was the president of the Florida Justice Association, a trade group of trial lawyers, from 2012 to 2013.

Florida Senate

Electoral history

When court-ordered redistricting resulted in an open Florida Senate seat based in eastern Broward County in 2016, Farmer decided to run for the seat. He faced former state Representative Jim Waldman and state Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed in the Democratic primary. Farmer won with 43% of the vote to Waldman's 28% and Clarke-Reed's 29%.[2] It was the most expensive Florida Senate primary that year, with Farmer raising hundreds of thousands of dollars primarily from law firms and trial attorneys, and Waldman getting financial support from insurance companies, gambling interests, and other industry groups.[3][4]

Farmer won the 2016 general election with 63% of the vote against Republican Antoanet Iotova.[5] Iotova was arrested the month before the election and charged with two counts of grand theft.[6]

Farmer won reelection in the 2018 elections, defeating Waldman again in the Democratic primary.[7]

Farmer did not file to run for re-election in 2022 and left office on November 8, succeeded by fellow Democrat Shevrin Jones.[8]

Committees

In the Senate, Farmer serves on the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Education Committee, the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, and the Appropriations Subcommittees on PreK-12 Education and Higher Education.[9]

Minority leader

On November 16, 2020, the Democratic Senate caucus elected Farmer minority leader for the 2020–22 Legislature.[10] On April 28, 2021, two days before the end of the 2021 legislative session, the Democratic caucus removed Farmer in a vote of no confidence.[11]

References
  1. "Senator Farmer". Florida Senate. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  2. Florida Division of Elections. "August 30, 2016 Primary Election".
  3. Ducassi, Daniel (August 26, 2016). "Broward state senate Democratic primary sets up a showdown of special interests". Politico Florida. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  4. Sweeney, Dan (October 19, 2016). "In Broward state Senate race, Democrat Farmer faces Republican Iotova". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  5. Florida Division of Elections. "November 8, 2016 General Election".
  6. Sweeney, Dan (October 19, 2016). "In Broward state Senate race, Democrat Farmer faces Republican Iotova". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. Wilson, Drew (June 22, 2018). "Rematch: Jim Waldman challenges Gary Farmer in SD 34". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  8. "Ballotpedia".
  9. "Senator Jones - The Florida Senate". www.flsenate.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  10. Swisher, Skyler (November 16, 2020). "Broward County's Gary Farmer elected to lead Florida Senate Democrats". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  11. Hayes, Kelly (April 28, 2021). "Senate Democrats sack Gary Farmer". Florida Politics.


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