40 Facts About Anna Eskamani

Anna Eskamani is the first Iranian American in the Florida legislature.

Anna Eskamani was born in Orlando, Florida, to parents who immigrated to the United States from Iran.

Anna Eskamani attended University High School in Orlando, Florida, from 2004 to 2008, where she participated in after school technical theater and graduated in 2008.

Anna Eskamani received two bachelor's degrees in 2012 and two master's degrees in 2015 from the University of Central Florida.

Anna Eskamani earned two certificates and taught at UCF as an adjunct professor.

Anna Eskamani is pursuing a PhD at UCF in public affairs.

Anna Eskamani worked at Planned Parenthood for six years, rising to become the organization's senior director of public affairs and communications for the merged affiliate known as Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.

On July 3,2017, Anna Eskamani announced her candidacy for the 47th district seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Anna Eskamani ran for the open seat vacated by Republican Mike Miller, who had served two terms in the district before announcing a run for Congress.

On December 20,2017, Anna Eskamani faced two Republican opponents in a primary and one Democratic opponent who did not live in the district, and would eventually withdraw from the race after Anna Eskamani filed a lawsuit challenging his legitimacy as a candidate.

Anna Eskamani identifies as a progressive Democrat, and focused her campaign on enhancing public education, protecting the environment, ensuring health care access and prioritizing gun control legislation.

Pulse nightclub is located in Florida's 47th district, and Anna Eskamani often spoke about gun violence.

Anna Eskamani was featured on the cover of Time magazine, in The Atlantic, the New York Times, the Independent, by MTV News, Teen Vogue, and in a Vice News documentary series.

Anna Eskamani prevailed in the general election on November 6,2018, winning 57 percent of the vote over the 43 percent for Republican candidate Stockton Reeves.

Anna Eskamani became the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature.

Anna Eskamani was quoted as saying, "I didn't come here for ritzy parties".

Anna Eskamani was a leader for the failed attempt to run out the clock on legislation that would define sanctuary city policies in Florida law.

Anna Eskamani is an advocate for public education, school safety, and environmental protection.

Anna Eskamani sponsored ten bills herself and co-sponsored more than sixty.

Anna Eskamani succeeded in securing $80,000 for a Central Florida nonprofit focused on human trafficking prevention called the Lifeboat Project.

Anna Eskamani spoke before the Florida Public Service Commission in support of higher energy efficiency goals than the proposed goals and more emphasis on renewable energy sources.

Anna Eskamani spoke for the need for Florida to establish new cost-benefit measurements versus the current use of the Ratepayer Impact Measurement Test.

Anna Eskamani has tried to raise awareness on the role the Florida Public Service Commission plays in the lives of everyday Floridians.

Anna Eskamani worked with Senator Randolph Bracy to file the legislation to end the school-to-prison pipeline.

The legislation Anna Eskamani introduced would set a statutory limitation on the arrest of minors.

Anna Eskamani filed legislation to prohibit public dollars from going to any voucher school that discriminate against students or parents for identifying as LGBTQ+.

Anna Eskamani supported public school teachers receiving a pay raise but pushed for additional funding than what was provided.

Anna Eskamani filed amendments for Florida to implement combined reporting in an effort to close corporate tax loopholes.

In 2020, Anna Eskamani won her re-election bid with a greater vote margin than she did in 2018, receiving 59 percent of the vote.

Anna Eskamani filed an Unemployment Omnibus bill HB 207, that would have among other changes, expanded eligibility for benefits, provide greater oversight for the Department of Economic Opportunity that manages Florida's unemployment system, and most controversially, increase the minimum and maximum weekly benefit by more than $100.

Anna Eskamani matched the senate's proposed increase in an amendment to HB 1463 that would improve the state's CONNECT website, but that amendment ultimately failed along party lines.

Anna Eskamani successfully passed appropriations projects in the house for local organization in her constituency.

However, two appropriations that would benefit mental health counseling for survivors of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre, and money to help fund the Zebra Coalition that provides support for homeless LGBT+ youth, both of which Anna Eskamani sponsored, had been vetoed by governor Ron DeSantis.

Anna Eskamani was effective in stopping new corporate tax giveaways, and secured from than $2 million in the state budget for local funding projects.

In 2022 Anna Eskamani ran again for re-election in the newly drawn House District 42.

Anna Eskamani led the Democratic Caucus against the Florida Republicans 6 week abortion ban, helping Democratic colleagues file more than 50 amendments to stop the bill from passing.

Anna Eskamani opposed legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, voting rights, unions and local control.

Anna Eskamani currently serves the Chair of both the Orange County Legislative Delegation and the Florida Legislature's Energy and Climate Caucus.

Anna Eskamani attempted to stop what has been the continuation of tension between Governor Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World by filing amendments that would protect the public from paying for lawsuits connected to this debate and legislation to expand the scope of policy targeting Walt Disney World to ensure that all companies are truly treated the same.

Anna Eskamani opposed policy that would allow Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President without resigning from his current position.