TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – LGBTQ rights group, Equality Florida, is coming to the defense of a candidate for Florida House District 65 seat in Hillsborough County.
Democrat Ashley Brundage, who is transgender, was the subject of recent campaign attack ads, including flyers sent to voters, mostly in South Tampa.
One of the flyers, sponsored by The Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, claimed Brundage is only interested in making history.
“If the Republican campaign committee wants to talk about me making history, it’s only going to help our travel and tourism industry,” Brundage said.
She believes when organizations look to host conventions, organizers choose states without laws restricting trans care or abortion access.
Another flyer shows the candidate in a bikini and criticizing her past issues with money by calling Brundage a “Category 5 financial hurricane.”
“If I was hiding that, you don’t think that would’ve come out. Yes, because it was already on my website that I navigated a year and a half of homelessness,” Brundage said.
Brundage hopes to unseat State Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman.
After agreeing to meet with News Channel 8 for an interview near an early voting location with other Republicans, Pittman then declined to go on camera.
As for Brundage, she said her money troubles are in the past and she has helped others fix and manage their personal financial situations.
“Since that time, I’ve worked 11 years for a financial services organization,” Brundage said. “Yes, I’ve had a lot of financial struggles just like a lot of people are struggling right now from hurricanes Helene and Milton.”
If elected, Brundage said her first action is to attract insurance companies back to Florida and try to get companies that don’t offer coverage for homes to expand their services.
“I have a comprehensive plan that’s going to solve the insurance crisis. It’s called the Insurance Accountability Act,” Brundage said.
The political newcomer grew up as a Republican but switched parties following Florida laws impacting the LGBTQ community.
The Republican committee that sent out the campaign flyers did not respond to any request for comment.
Stratton Pollitzer, Chair of Equality Florida Action PAC released a statement: “These attacks are a desperate attempt by extreme Republicans like Karen Gonzalez Pittman to distract voters from her horrendous record of attacking the LGBTQ community and her utter failure to address real problems like the insurance crisis. While Karen Gonzalez Pittman pushes hateful rhetoric, leaders like Ashley Brundage are focused on what truly matters—solving skyrocketing insurance rates, the affordable housing crisis, and the severe teacher shortage. Floridians are tired of these divisive culture wars and weird obsessions that are being rubberstamped by DeSantis’ Republican supermajority. We deserve leaders who unite us, prioritize solutions, and are building a better Florida for all.”
