Florida Politics sat down with Jayden D’Onofrio, founder of Florida Future Leaders — a statewide organization he launched at 19 that’s already made waves registering thousands of new voters and mobilizing tens of thousands more.
D’Onofrio is running for the open House District 102 seat. If he wins this cycle, D’Onofrio would be the youngest Democrat ever elected to the House, and he is increasingly talked about as an exciting face of the party’s future.
Florida Politics: It’s no secret that you’re young, in fact, you would be the youngest Democrat ever elected to the House. Have you heard concerns about your age?
Jayden D’Onofrio: Not concerns, but it’s definitely been a conversation starter. Some people are surprised, others excited, but they don’t walk away with doubts. Most are impressed that I founded Florida Future Leaders at a young age and built it into a statewide network of 100-plus organizers. We’ve registered thousands of voters, turned out tens of thousands more, and made over 3 million direct voter contacts. People also notice the money I’ve raised and the energy I bring, so electability isn’t the issue. The only hesitation I hear is the assumption that young automatically means far left. It doesn’t. I’m a pragmatic, results-driven Democrat who’s already advanced legislation on youth homelessness, substance abuse, food insecurity and gun safety, and I’ve testified in Tallahassee. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was 26 when she was elected, Amber Mariano was 21 when she was elected, and Adam Putnam was 22. Younger doesn’t mean unprepared — it means I bring a perspective politics needs, and I’m willing to work twice as hard.
FP: You mentioned that people assume young politicos are progressive but you don’t identify that way. What kind of Democrat would you say you are?
D’Onofrio: I consider myself a pragmatic moderate. I’m focused on practical solutions that strengthen businesses and lower costs for Floridians — on insurance, housing, public safety and infrastructure. At the same time, I’m proud to be progressive on core issues like protecting a woman’s right to choose and defending strong public education. I’ll work with anyone who brings forward ideas that improve people’s daily lives.
FP: You’ve spoken about losing your mother to fentanyl in 2020. How has that shaped your policy views?
D’Onofrio: The whole reason I’m in this fight is because I lost my mom to fentanyl. We need to be tough on traffickers but also smart about saving lives — making naloxone widely available, investing in treatment, and expanding recovery courts and peer-support programs that actually work. It’s also why I support legalizing recreational marijuana. Legal marijuana is regulated marijuana, and regulation is how we keep families safe and prevent tragedies like what happened to mine.
FP: You’ve had success raising money for both Florida Future Leaders and your campaign, where you brought in more than $100,000 in your first month. How are you able to fundraise successfully in an environment where elected officials with more experience often struggle?
D’Onofrio: I think it’s mostly about hard work, and I’m willing and able to spend the time that’s necessary to be successful. I also think people are happy to contribute to a cause that seems refreshing and gives them hope. It’s also about listening, I put the time into building relationships and understanding the ways these issues impact people and businesses. That’s what’s helped me convince donors my campaign is worth contributing to.
HD 102 is anchored in Davie and surrounding Broward communities.
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