• Welcome to the 2026 Kennedy King Gala

Jose Javier Rodriguez

Candidate for Attourney General

The Honorable Jose Javier Rodriguez’s commitment to justice was shaped by his family’s story. The son of Cuban immigrants, he learned the values of faith, community, and standing up for others from an early age.

After graduating from Brown University and Harvard Law School, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal before returning home to Florida to work as a legal aid attorney representing low-income workers and immigrants. That experience reinforced his deep belief: everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of income or background.

As an attorney, Jose Javier fought for working people and held powerful interests accountable when they violated the law. In the Florida Legislature, he earned a reputation as a fearless advocate for transparency, consumer protection, and accountability. As U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor, he worked to expand opportunity and strengthen America’s workforce.

But his most important role is not professional—it is being a husband and father. Along with his wife, Sonia, they are raising two young sons, and are deeply committed to creating a brighter future for the next generation of Floridians.

Harry cohen

Harry Cohen is a member of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners representing District 1, a position to which he was elected in November 2020 and re-elected in November 2022.

He has dedicated his life and career to public service. A lawyer by profession, Harry served as Chief Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County from 2005-2011, as an elected member of the Tampa City Council from 2011-2019 and as general counsel to the Clerk from 2019-2020.

As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, he presently sits on the following boards and committees:

  • Tampa Bay Water, Chairman of the Board

  • Hillsborough County Aviation Authority / Tampa International Airport

  • Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, Vice Chair

  • David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts

  • Transportation Planning Organization, Immediate Past Chair

  • Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

  • Florida Association of Counties

Harry is also a former commissioner of Port Tampa Bay and a former board member of the Florida Orchestra, the Florida Aquarium and Community Tampa Bay.

A Tampa native, he is a graduate of Berkshire School, Gettysburg College and New York Law School. He is a member of the Florida Bar and of the Tampa Bay Area Committee on Foreign Relations.

Kathy castor

Candidate for ...

Congresswoman Kathy Castor is a native Floridian and the first woman elected to

represent the people of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Congress. Since her

election in 2006, she has dedicated her career to serving the Tampa Bay community,

building a record of results that has earned trust across the region and across party lines.

Few members of Congress can match Congresswoman Castor’s deep roots in their

community and sustained commitment to public service. For nearly two decades, she has

delivered for Tampa Bay families by strengthening the local economy, securing grants

and investments that create good-paying jobs, and fighting to improve quality of life

throughout the region.

As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Castor has

relentlessly worked to lower energy costs for working families, protect Florida’s natural

environment, expand access to affordable health care, and strengthen America’s energy

future. She has also been a strong advocate for veterans, ensuring they receive the

benefits, services, and support they have earned through their service to our nation.

Following Florida’s illegal redistricting process, Congresswoman Castor now represents a

newly shaped Florida district 14. While she has represented portions of Tampa Bay for

nearly two decades, the district includes many new voters and remains one of the most

closely watched congressional races in the country. Florida district 14 is home to a large

number of independents and unaffiliated voters who will play a decisive role in the

outcome of the election.

Congresswoman Castor’s consistent record of delivering results, and her ability to build

support across partisan divides position her as a strong advocate for the people of Tampa

Bay and the families of Florida's 14th Congressional District.

Please help me by welcoming Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

david jolly

Candidate for Governer

David Jolly is a former Congressman from Pinellas County, where he and his wife Laura are raising their two children. He’s running for Governor of Florida with a simple focus: putting people over politics and Florida first. 

During his time in Congress, David built a reputation for independence, standing up for what is right, calling out what is wrong, and taking on political corruption when others wouldn’t. 

David’s campaign is grounded in three core values that can bring people together across party lines: 

1. The economy should work for everyone 

2. Government can be a force for good 

3. Ending the culture wars that have divided Florida 

David has earned the endorsement of more than 150 current and former elected officials, has held over 225 town halls, and is traveling across Florida meeting with and listening to voters. He is currently leading the Republican candidates in most public polling. To learn more, please visit DavidJolly.com.

Bracy Davis

Senator LaVoon Bracy Davis currently represents Florida's Senate District 15 in West Orange County. Before her legislative career, Senator Bracy Davis made significant contributions as an arts executive in Central Florida. She played a key role in diversifying community programming and engaging with the arts community, collaborating with over 200 local arts groups, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Her efforts infused millions of dollars into the economic development of Orlando and its surrounding areas. 

Among her notable achievements, Sen. Bracy Davis served as Chair of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, a 15-member advisory council that advises the Secretary of State on cultural grant funding and related matters. A highlight of her tenure was selecting the sculptor for the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune statue now in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, DC. Additionally, she is the 2nd Vice Chair of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, a non-profit organization supporting state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the nation. 

Sen. Bracy Davis's commitment to community service is also reflected in her past roles as a board member of Pace Center for Girls – Orange County and as a volunteer for Valencia College's Take Stock in Children/Horizons Mentorship program. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. 

A West Orange County native, Sen. Bracy Davis attended Dr. Phillips High School and participated actively in its visual and performing arts magnet program. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts from Howard University and a Juris Doctor from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Law as part of the inaugural class. As a licensed attorney, she previously served as a Senior Attorney for the Department of Children and Families. 

Throughout her legislative career, Sen. Bracy Davis has been a staunch advocate for minority and marginalized communities. She has been a champion for causes such as public education, sensible gun reform, affordable housing, voting rights, women's reproductive healthcare, and social justice and equity. During the 2026 legislative session, Sen. Bracy Davis  successfully secured an unprecedented $4 million in the state budget for the families and  descendants of the Groveland Four.  

Senator Bracy Davis is the daughter of civil rights activist, Dr. LaVon Bracy Davis, and Rev. Dr.  Randolph Bracy, Jr. She is married to Rev. Dr. Adrian R. Davis, pastor of The Bethel Church in  Mount Dora, Florida.