1. Janet Cruz was born on July 7,1956 and is an American politician who formerly served as a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing part of Hillsborough County and Tampa from 2018 until 2022 before losing re-election, as well as four terms in the Florida House of Representatives, representing a Tampa-based district from 2010 until her election to the Senate.
Janet Cruz had her first child at the age of 16 and started a small business to support herself and her family.
Janet Cruz owns and operates several franchised Pearle Vision Center stores in the Tampa Bay region and worked as a Regional Director for Cigna Healthcare in Senior Group Sales.
Janet Cruz opted to run in the special election, despite the fact that she did not live in the district, and faced Pat Kemp, the Chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party, and Gil Sanchez, an attorney, in the Democratic primary.
In 2012, following the reconfiguration of House districts, Janet Cruz was moved into the newly created 62nd District, which included most of the territory she had previously represented in the 58th District.
Janet Cruz was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and encountered Wesley Warren, the Republican nominee, in the general election.
Janet Cruz was endorsed by both the Tampa Bay Times and the Tampa Tribune in her bid for re-election.
In 2014, Janet Cruz was re-elected to her third full term in the legislature without opposition.
Janet Cruz was elected to the Florida State Senate in the 2018 election, holding on to her seat until losing to Republican Jay Collins in 2022.
Mrs Janet Cruz is married to a Tampa physician and this is thought to have impacted her decision to vote against the bill.
Janet Cruz currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Let America Vote, an organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that aims to end voter suppression in the United States.