Jeanette Nuñez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeanette Nuñez
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| 20th Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 |
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| Governor | Ron DeSantis |
| Preceded by | Carlos Lopez-Cantera |
| Speaker pro tempore of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 22, 2016 – November 20, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Matt Hudson |
| Succeeded by | MaryLynn Magar |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 2, 2010 – November 6, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | David Rivera |
| Succeeded by | Juan Fernandez-Barquin |
| Constituency | 112th district (2010–2012) 119th district (2012–2018) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeanette Marie Sanchez
June 6, 1972 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Adrian Nuñez
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Florida International University (BA, MPA) |
Jeanette Marie Nuñez, born on June 6, 1972, is an American businesswoman and politician. She has been the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Florida since 2019. She is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming lieutenant governor, she represented Miami-Dade County in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018. During her last two years there, she also served as the speaker pro tempore. Nuñez is the first Hispanic American woman to hold the position of Florida's lieutenant governor.
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Early Life and Education
Jeanette Nuñez was born in Miami. Her parents, Victor C. Sánchez and Teresa Sánchez, were from Cuba. She is one of three daughters.
In 1994, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University (FIU). Her studies focused on political science and international relations. Later, in 1998, Nuñez completed her Master of Public Administration degree, also at FIU.
Public Service Career
After finishing her college studies, Nuñez began her career as an aide to state senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla. She then moved into the healthcare field. She worked as the vice-president of government affairs at Jackson Health System.
Nuñez also taught as an adjunct professor and advisor at Florida International University. Before becoming lieutenant governor, she was the vice-president of external affairs for Kendall Regional Medical Center and Aventura Hospital & Medical Center.
Serving in the Florida House
In 2010, state representative David Rivera could not run for re-election. Jeanette Nuñez decided to run for his seat in the 112th district. This district covered parts of Broward, Collier, and Miami-Dade counties.
Nuñez won the Republican primary election with 66% of the votes. She promised to create laws that would "improve the economy" and "reform the Medicaid program."
In the general election, she faced Sandra Ruiz, a Democratic candidate. Nuñez focused her campaign on creating jobs. She said that creating jobs and lowering taxes for businesses were the most important issues for her district and Florida. Nuñez won the election with 56% of the votes.
When Florida's legislative districts were redrawn in 2012, Nuñez's area became the 119th district. She ran for re-election there and easily won the Republican primary with 73% of the votes. She faced only write-in candidates in the general election and won easily again.
During the 2014 legislative session, Nuñez worked on an important law. She helped sponsor legislation that would allow children of undocumented immigrants to pay the same in-state college tuition rates as other Floridians. This law was passed by the legislature.
In 2018, Nuñez introduced a bill in Florida to make Daylight Saving Time permanent throughout the year. This idea was called the "Sunshine Protection Act." To make this change happen nationwide, Senator Marco Rubio sponsored a similar bill in the U.S. Senate. This was needed because a state bill could not take effect until the federal government approved the change.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
On September 5, 2018, Representative Ron DeSantis chose Jeanette Nuñez to be his running mate for the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election. They ran against Andrew Gillum and Chris King. DeSantis and Nuñez won the election by a very small margin. Nuñez made history as the first Latina woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Florida.
In 2022, DeSantis and Nuñez were re-elected with 59.4% of the votes. This was a very large win, with over 1.6 million more votes than their opponent, Charlie Crist. It was the biggest win for any Republican governor in Florida's history. They even won in Miami-Dade County, which had not voted for a Republican governor since 2002.
What the Lieutenant Governor Does
Nuñez was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 8, 2019. She took over from fellow Republican Carlos Lopez-Cantera. As lieutenant governor, she has hosted many meetings and events. These events often support people who have left Venezuela seeking safety.
Political Views
Immigration Stance
Nuñez has spoken about immigration, especially regarding Cuban refugees. She explained that states do not control immigration laws, but they do care about the well-being of their residents. She said that entering the country illegally and fleeing a dictatorship to seek asylum are different situations. She also mentioned that the governor would consider sending people to other states, like Delaware, the President's home state.
Personal Life
Jeanette Nuñez married Adrian Nuñez in 1997. They have three children together. Nuñez is a Roman Catholic.
See also
