Lakeland's Jennifer Canady chosen to be Florida House Speaker for 2028-2030 term

In her first session as a Florida legislator, Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, sponsored two of the session's most significant bills, showing that she carried the trust of the Republican leadership.

Canady has now gained the support of her fellow freshman members. House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, announced Friday that Canady had been designated as House speaker for the term starting in 2028, assuming she is re-elected three more times and Republicans retain their decisive advantage in the Florida House.

“Congratulations to @jhcanady on her selection today by the 2022 class, putting her in line to serve as Speaker for the 2028-2030 term,” Renner wrote on Twitter. “I look forward to working with her and the freshman class as we prepare for another consequential session.”

Canady said Wednesday that the 30 freshman members of the House Republican caucus came to a consensus without needing to take a vote. The decision sets her up to become the state's first female House speaker. Three women have served as Florida Senate president: Gwen Margolis, Toni Jennings and the current leader, Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.

Barring unforeseen changes, Canady will become only the second Florida House speaker from Polk County. Perry E. Murray, a Democrat from Frostproof, held that role from 1949 to 1951. Ledger research found no other House Speakers from Polk County. Dean Cannon, a Lakeland High graduate, lived in Winter Park while serving as House Speaker from 2010 to 2012.

Polk County has produced at least four Florida Senate presidents: Park Trammell (1905), Herbert Drane (1913), N. Curtis Peterson Jr. (1983) and Bob Crawford (1989).

Local Legislative delegation Polk County legislators tout bill successes, local funding at Lakeland Chamber breakfast

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Previously Legislative newcomer Canady determined to be as effective as possible in Tallahassee

“I am grateful to have the trust of my classmates,” Canady said Wednesday. “I'm thankful for their willingness to allow me to serve in this way, and I look forward to the work that we'll do together as a group to write the next chapter of Florida's success story. And to have the opportunity to lead that, it’s really the honor of a lifetime.”

There had been reports that Canady had clinched the needed support, but her selection was not official under caucus rules until Friday.

Asked if she had campaigned for the role, Canady said she went through “a process of building relationships and trust. And in the end, it was very gratifying to have the trust of the Republican freshmen.”

Polk County’s other state House members — Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade; Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven; and Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City — did not take part in Canady’s selection, as none are first-term members.

Outsiders might wonder why legislators choose leaders so far in advance, but Canady said Florida’s political system makes that necessary. House members are restricted to four terms totaling eight years.

“It is a function of term limits and how important it is from the very beginning for us to get straight to work,” Canady said. “And so I will have increased responsibilities that start immediately because the reality is that we only have four terms and so we can't waste a minute.”

Canady, 49, said she expects to begin learning about the role of the position from Renner, the current speaker, along with the designated successors ahead of her, Rep. Danny Perez, R-Miami, and Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island.

Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Lithia, said the Republican Caucus used to begin considering future House speakers before its first session but now waits until after the session is complete.

"So, in this year, we got the benefit of watching Jennifer shine almost from the very beginning," Alvarez said. "She is one of those people that has that 'it' quality that you need to manage and wrangle and lead the beast that is the Florida House. ... She's going to make an incredible speaker of the House."

Alvarez said Canady remained calm during stressful moments and earned the confidence of her fellow Republicans.

"Everybody fashions themselves out as a leader, but when in times of higher stress, or times of, I use the word 'crisis,' when the chips are down or the votes aren't in, you watch people rise," he said. "And Jennifer did just that. She was cool, calm, collected, always motivational. But one of her greatest attributes is that she is a consensus builder. So, it's very easy to say, 'I'm the boss; do it my way.' That's leadership by coercion. She always chooses the opposite of that."

Canady is a Lakeland native who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Florida State University and a master's from the University of South Florida. She has taught at Lakeland Christian School for 18 years and directs the school’s RISE Institute, which encompasses research, innovation, STEM learning and entrepreneurship.

During this year’s session, Canady co-sponsored a House bill (HB 7) that barred abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions for cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies. Canady previously told a Ledger reporter that she was largely responsible for another provision that provides $25 million to pregnancy care centers, facilities that offer pregnancy testing and other services while seeking to persuade pregnant girls and women not to have abortions.

That money was added to the small, recurring financial support the state provides to such centers. The Legislature adopted a Senate version of the bill, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed it into law.

But the law’s validity depends on a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court in a challenge to a 15-week abortion law enacted last year. Canady’s husband, Charles T. Canady, is one of the Supreme Court justices considering the case. A former chief justice, Barbara Pariente, has suggested that Canady recuse himself from the case because of his wife’s role in passing the six-week abortion ban.

Asked during last year’s campaign about potential conflicts because of her husband’s position, Jennifer Canady said she did not expect any problems.

Canady also sponsored a bill (HB 1259) that directs public school districts to share local property tax revenues with charter schools. The funds could be used for construction and maintenance of buildings. Some critics have warned that the law will siphon needed money from public schools.

“It is always gratifying to have the opportunity to do challenging work, and I certainly did have some bills that allowed me to demonstrate my ability to handle myself under difficult circumstances,” Canady said.

In this year’s session, Canady served on the Education and Employment Committee and five subcommittees, including Education Quality and PreK-12 Appropriations.

Canady handily defeated former Lakeland City Commissioner Phillip Walker in the Republican primary last year for House District 50, which covers the Lakeland area. No Democrat ran in the election. She succeeded Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, who was term limited in the House and gained election to the Florida Senate.

Canady’s campaign has about $49,000 in available cash for the 2024 election cycle, according to figures from the Florida Division of Elections. Her political action committee, Friends of Jennifer Canady, carries about $58,000 in available cash. Its donors include the Capitol Conservative Alliance, Associated Industries of Florida and ABC Liquors.

Bonnie Patterson-James, a Lakeland Democrat, has filed to challenge Canady in next year’s election. Patterson-James has not yet filed a campaign finance report.

In addition to leaders of the Florida House and Senate, Polk County has produced many influential legislators, among them Spessard Holland, Lawton Chiles, J.D. Alexander and Kelli Stargel.

Republicans currently hold supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate, meaning Democrats have little influence over legislation.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's Jennifer Canady elected to be Florida House Speaker in 2028