Jason Pizzo

Jason William Barnet Pizzo (born May 20, 1976) is an American attorney and State Senator who has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2018, representing parts of coastal Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

While receiving his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Miami, he was sworn-in as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During his time as a prosecutor, he helped create the SAO’s youth focused Gun Violence Initiative.

Career

Pizzo first ran for the State Senate against Daphne Campbell in the Democratic Party primary. Pizzo won 24% behind Campbell with 31%. In 2018, Pizzo ran again and received 54% to Campbell's 46% in the primary.[1][2] Pizzo was elected to the Florida legislature on November 6, 2018 without opposition.[3]In 2022, Pizzo was re-elected to the Florida Senate without opposition.

On February 10, 2023, the Florida Senate Democratic Party caucus unanimously elected Pizzo to succeed Lauren Book as Senate Democratic leader during the 2024–2026 term.[4]

On April 24, 2025, Pizzo announced that he had left the Democratic Party and registered as an Independent.[5] On May 9, 2025, he announced that he would run for governor of Florida in 2026 as an independent.[6]

Elections

2018 Florida's 38th Senate district Primary Election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jason Pizzo 26,907 54.09%
Democratic Daphne Campbell 22,837 45.91%
Total votes 49,744 100.00%
2016 Florida's 38th Senate district Primary Election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daphne Campbell 9,017 31.01%
Democratic Jason Pizzo 6,888 23.69%
Democratic Michael Gongora 6,243 21.47%
Democratic Kevin A. Burns 4,437 15.26%
Democratic Anis Blemur 1,529 5.26%
Democratic Don Festge 964 3.32%
Total votes 29,078 100.00%

References

  1. ^ "Jason Pizzo".
  2. ^ "Scandal-plagued Daphne Campbell loses state senate seat to Jason Pizzo". Miami Herald. Miami Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "Florida Election Results - Election Results 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sen. Jason Pizzo tapped to become Democratic leader". CBS News Miami. February 10, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Florida Senate Democratic leader drops party, switches to no-party affiliation". Tampa Bay Times.
  6. ^ Fineout, Gary (May 9, 2025). "After dramatic Democratic Party exit, Pizzo says he's running for Florida governor". Politico. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "2018 Florida's 38th Senate district Democratic Primary Results". results.elections.myflorida.com.
  8. ^ "2016 Florida's 38th Senate district Primary Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com.
Florida Senate
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 37th district
2018–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Florida Senate
2024–2025 		Succeeded by