Laurel Lee Explained

Laurel Lee
State:Florida
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Predecessor:Scott Franklin (redistricted)
Office1:30th Secretary of State of Florida
Governor1:Ron DeSantis
Term Start1:January 28, 2019
Term End1:May 16, 2022
Predecessor1:Mike Ertel
Successor1:Cord Byrd
Office2:Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Appointed2:Rick Scott
Term Start2:May 5, 2013
Term End2:January 28, 2019
Predecessor2:Daniel Sleet
Successor2:Thomas Palermo
Birth Name:Laurel Frances Moore
Birth Date:26 March 1974
Birth Place:Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Tom Lee
Children:3
Education:University of Florida (BA, JD)
Website:

Laurel Moore Lee (née Moore; born March 26, 1974) is an American attorney, former judge, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 15th congressional district since 2023.[1] A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as Florida's secretary of state from 2019 to 2022 and as a judge on Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit from 2013 to 2019.[2]

Early life and education

Lee was born on March 26, 1974, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio,[3] the daughter of a U.S. Air Force officer who later attained the rank of major general[4] [5] and a public-school teacher.[6] [7] She graduated from the University of Florida, where she was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame in 1999 and was a member of Florida Blue Key.[8] [9] She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.[10] [11]

Legal and judicial career

Lee began her legal career at Carlton Fields, P.A., specializing in antitrust and complex business litigation.[12] She later served both as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida. As a federal prosecutor, she coordinated the federal-state Task Force on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and served as Violence Against Women Act coordinator.[13] [14]

In 2013, Governor Rick Scott appointed Lee to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County.[15] She was subsequently elected without opposition in 2014.[16] During her tenure, she presided over civil, appellate, and domestic relations cases and served on Florida Supreme Court commissions.[17]

Florida Secretary of State (2019–2022)

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Lee as Florida's 30th secretary of state in January 2019.[18] [19] She oversaw Florida's elections, corporate registrations, and cultural affairs.

In 2020, Florida saw a record turnout of more than 11 million ballots, the highest in nearly three decades, in an election widely regarded as secure and efficient.[20] [21] Under Lee's tenure, the Department of State implemented election security measures, referred fraudulent petition forms for investigation, and advanced voter registration security.[22]

Lee resigned on May 16, 2022, to run for Congress.[23]

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

Elections

In 2022, Lee won election to Florida's 15th congressional district, defeating Democrat Alan Cohn.[24] She was sworn in on January 3, 2023.[25] She was re-elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Pat Kemp.[26] She is expected to run for re-election in 2026.

Tenure

Lee has focused on national security, law enforcement, and technology policy.[27] [28] She was the lead sponsor of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISA), a bill to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act including Section 702.[29] She also introduced the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act, addressing non-consensual "deepfake" intimate images.[30]

She serves on the bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.[31] She also sits on the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittees on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, and on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, and on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

In 2024, Lee was named as an impeachment manager in the case against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas[32] and was appointed to the bipartisan task force investigating the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.[33]

During her tenure in office, Lee has nearly doubled her net worth ($7.39 million in 2022 to $14.02 million in 2024).[34] She has approximately $6.2 million invested in publicly traded assets as of January 2026.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Lee is Vice Chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus,[37] and she is also a member of the Republican Study Committee,[38] the Republic Governance Group,[39] the Congressional Western Caucus[40] and the Everglades Caucus.[41]

Personal life

Lee is married to Tom Lee, former president of the Florida Senate.[42] They have three children and live in the Brandon area near Tampa. She has volunteered with Bay Area Legal Services' Domestic Violence Assistance Project and served on the board of the Emergency Care Help Organization (E.C.H.O.) of Brandon.[43] [44]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff . FOX 13 News . 2024-11-05 . Republican Laurel Lee wins re-election for second term . 2025-09-23 . FOX 13 News . en-US.
  2. News: Office of the Governor of Florida . Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Judge Laurel M. Lee as Florida Secretary of State . January 28, 2019 . February 4, 2019 . March 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230312031244/https://www.flgov.com/2019/01/28/governor-ron-desantis-appoints-judge-laurel-m-lee-as-florida-secretary-of-state/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Staff . FOX 13 News . 2024-11-05 . Republican Laurel Lee wins re-election for second term . 2025-09-23 . FOX 13 News . en-US.
  4. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106189/major-general-william-f-moore/
  5. Web site: Ogles . Jacob . 2022-07-26 . Veterans initiative will fight to elect Laurel Lee in CD 15 . 2025-09-23 . Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. . en-US.
  6. https://en.geneastar.org/genealogy/moorelaurel/laurel-lee
  7. Web site: Reports . Staff . 2019-01-28 . Laurel Lee – Circuit Judge and wife of Sen. Tom Lee – to be next Secretary of State . 2025-09-23 . Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. . en-US.
  8. Web site: Florida Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Elected to Serve on National Board - Florida Department of State . 2025-09-23 . dos.fl.gov.
  9. Web site: Hall of Fame Members DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE . 2025-09-23 . studentlife.ufl.edu.
  10. Web site: Florida New Members 2023. November 17, 2022. November 18, 2022.
  11. Web site: Laurel Moore - Attorney in Tampa, FL . www.attorneys.org.
  12. Web site: Laurel Moore Lee appointed to Hillsborough Circuit Court – SaintPetersBlog . https://web.archive.org/web/20250818080650/https://saintpetersblog.com/laurel-moore-lee-appointed-to-hillsborough-circuit-court/ . 2025-08-18 . 2025-09-26 . saintpetersblog.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2022-09-24 . Endorsement Announcement . 2025-10-08 . Poder Latino PoderLatino.us . en-US.
  14. Web site: About the Secretary - Florida Department of State . 2025-10-08 . fldoswebuat-sandbox.azurewebsites.net.
  15. News: Tampa Bay Times . Two UF grads appointed to Hillsborough judgeships . May 7, 2013 . February 4, 2019 .
  16. Web site: Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Judge Laurel M. Lee as Florida Secretary of State Executive Office of the Governor . 2025-09-26 . www.flgov.com.
  17. News: Tallahassee Democrat . Gov. Ron DeSantis names Tampa judge Laurel M. Lee Florida Secretary of State . January 28, 2019 . February 3, 2019 . Tallahassee Democrat.
  18. Web site: Tampa Judge Replaces Official Who Resigned Over Blackface Photos. January 28, 2019. Seminole Heights, FL Patch.
  19. Web site: Call . James . Gov. Ron DeSantis names Tampa judge Laurel M. Lee Florida Secretary of State . 2025-09-26 . Tallahassee Democrat . en-US.
  20. Web site: Patrick . Steve . 2020-11-04 . Florida voters’ turnout highest in 28 years . 2025-09-26 . WJXT . en.
  21. Web site: 2020-11-04 . Yes, it is true -- Florida ran a smooth election . 2025-09-26 . AP News . en.
  22. Web site: Beninate . Nick Jones, Renee . 2022-01-20 . Florida AG asked to investigate suspected fraudulent casino petitions . 2025-09-26 . WJXT . en.
  23. Web site: staff . Lawrence MowerTimes . correspondent . William MarchTimes . Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee to resign, eyes congressional run . 2025-09-26 . Tampa Bay Times . en.
  24. Web site: Ogles . Jacob . 2022-11-09 . Laurel Lee defeats Alan Cohn in CD 15, putting Florida’s newest House seat in GOP column . 2025-09-26 . Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. . en-US.
  25. Web site: Staff . T. W. N. . 118th Congress New House Chiefs . 2025-09-26 . en-US.
  26. Web site: Staff . FOX 13 News . 2024-11-05 . Republican Laurel Lee wins re-election for second term . 2025-09-26 . FOX 13 News . en-US.
  27. Web site: White . Gary . Rep. Laurel Lee appointed to U.S. House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence . 2025-10-08 . The Ledger . en-US.
  28. Web site: Dixon . Drew . 2025-06-15 . Ashley Moody, Laurel Lee pitch legislation in Congress to step up immigration measures . 2025-10-08 . Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. . en-US.
  29. Web site: Picket . Kerry . Speaker Johnson pushes lawmakers to support FISA reauthorization vote next week . 2025-09-26 . . en-US.
  30. Web site: Curi . Maria . 2025-05-20 . Scoop: Momentum builds for AI deepfake bills . 2025-09-26 . Axios . en.
  31. Web site: White . Gary . Rep. Laurel Lee appointed to U.S. House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence . 2025-09-26 . The Ledger . en-US.
  32. Web site: News . A. B. C. . Historic impeachment articles against Alejandro Mayorkas sent to Senate, but will there be a full trial? . 2025-09-26 . ABC News . en.
  33. Web site: House leaders announce members of bipartisan task force investigating Trump assassination attempt . . July 29, 2024 . 2024-07-31.
  34. Web site: Laurel M. Lee Net Worth Quiver Quantitative . 2026-02-04 . www.quiverquant.com . en.
  35. Web site: Laurel M. Lee (Florida (FL)), 119th Congress Profile . 2025-09-26 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.
  36. Web site: House Committee on House Administration . 2025-09-26 . GovTrack.us . en.
  37. Web site: 2023-01-30 . Membership Main Street Caucus . 2025-09-26 . mainstreetcaucus.house.gov . en.
  38. Web site: 2025-02-19 . Leadership Republican Study Committee . 2025-09-26 . rsc-pfluger.house.gov . en.
  39. Web site: Home . 2025-09-26 . Republican Governance / Tuesday Group PAC . en-US.
  40. Web site: Caucus Memberships. Congressional Western Caucus. 9 April 2025.
  41. Web site: Congressional Everglades Caucus - Summary from LegiStorm . 2025-09-26 . www.legistorm.com.
  42. Web site: Brown . Jo-Lynn . 2025-09-23 . Former Senate President Tom Lee inducted into Florida Housing Hall of Fame . 2025-09-26 . Tampa Bay Business & Wealth . en-US.
  43. Web site: Henderson . Joe . 2019-01-30 . Joe Henderson: Laurel Lee was easy pick when Florida needed new Secretary of State . 2025-09-26 . Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. . en-US.
  44. Web site: Collins . Kathy . 2022-10-03 . Laurel Lee, U.S. House Florida District 15 . 2025-09-26 . www.ospreyobserver.com . en-US.

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