24 Facts About Alex Sink

Adelaide "Alex" Sink was born on June 5,1948 and is an American former politician and financier.

Alex Sink ran as the Democratic nominee in the 2014 special election for Florida's 13th congressional district, losing to Republican David Jolly on March 11,2014.

Alex Sink is the widow of Florida attorney and politician Bill McBride, who was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida in 2002, making them the only married American couple to both run unsuccessfully in gubernatorial races.

Alex Sink is a former President of Florida Operations at NationsBank, now Bank of America.

Alex Sink was appointed by former Governor Lawton Chiles to the Commission on Government Accountability to the People.

Alex Sink served on Chiles' Commission on Education and was vice-chair of Florida TaxWatch.

Alex Sink has served with the Florida Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Beth El Farm Workers Ministry, and as Chair of the Board of the United Way of Hillsborough County and the Suncoast chapters.

Alex Sink was the Democratic candidate for Florida's office of Chief Financial Officer in 2006.

Alex Sink defeated Republican Tom Lee 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent.

Alex Sink was the first Democrat elected to the state Cabinet since 1998.

Charlie Crist would forgo re-election to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez altered her position, and on May 13,2009, Alex Sink announced her intention to run for governor.

Alex Sink faced health care executive Rick Scott in the general election, as well as an independent candidate, urban designer and policy analyst, Michael E Arth.

On October 25,2010, during a televised debate, Alex Sink read a text message sent to her makeup artist's cellular phone from a campaign official instructing Alex Sink as to debate strategy, contrary to the rules of the debate.

Alex Sink quickly gained support from national Democratic power brokers.

Alex Sink signed a one-year lease for an apartment near her campaign headquarters in Clearwater to establish residency in the district, with plans to buy a house in the district later.

The race was close, with Alex Sink earning 46.6 percent of the vote to Jolly's 48.4 percent.

Alex Sink believes in the placement of children in a home where it is in the best interests of children, regardless of gender preference.

Alex Sink addressed a group of 300 gay and lesbian advocates at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale.

In 2008, Alex Sink founded Ruth's List Florida, named in honor of United States Representative Ruth Bryan Owen, the first woman to be elected to the United States House of Representatives from Florida and the second to be elected from the American south.

Since her two unsuccessful electoral campaigns, Alex Sink has become involved in mentoring tech startups in the Tampa Bay area.

In 2011, Alex Sink worked to launch the Florida Next Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan policy foundation.

In 2017, Alex Sink was elected a Life Trustee of Wake Forest University.

In 2020, Alex Sink was named 2020 Citizen of the Year by University of Florida's Bob Graham Center for Public Service in an online ceremony, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex Sink sits on the boards of The Dali Museum, Junior Achievement, United Way Suncoast and the Tampa Bay Waves.