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Michelle Salzman

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Michelle Salzman
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 3, 2020
Preceded byMike Hill
Personal details
Born
Michelle Lynn Hisle[1][2]

(1977-07-05) July 5, 1977 (age 47)
Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePhillip Salzman
Children3
Alma materPensacola State College (AAS)
University of West Florida (BSBA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businesswoman
  • soldier
WebsiteCampaign website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsYugoslav Wars

Michelle Salzman (née Hisle,[1] born July 5, 1977)[2] is an American politician, businesswoman, and Army veteran currently serving as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 1st District since November 2020.[2][3] She defeated incumbent Mike Hill in the Republican primary and Democrat Franscine Mathis in the general election.[4][5] She was re-elected in 2022 and 2024.[6]

Salzman currently serves as the junior most state legislator for Escambia County; her district primarily including the northern portion of Escambia County.[7]

Early life and career

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Salzman was raised in Pensacola, Florida. After graduating high school in 1995, she says she joined the Army when she was 17 to escape an abusive home.[8][1] Salzman states that her father was an abusive alcoholic and her mother became addicted to opioids when she was in middle school; Salzman has stated that both of her parents died at an early age from opioid addiction.[9] On February 16, 2022, Salzman stated, while debating in support of an anti-abortion bill, that as a child, her uncle regularly sexually abused her and her sister.[10] She served as part of the NATO forces in Bosnia where she says she was raped by her commanding officer while deployed.[11] She got married in the Army, but separated after they had two children. She returned to Pensacola where she became an exotic dancer. She obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree from Pensacola State College[12]

Salzman earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of West Florida.[2]

Volunteering and politics

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Salzman worked as an education chair for Pensacola mayor Grover Robinson's transition team and is a former county PTA president and member of the Florida PTA Board of Directors.[12] Salzman served as a "Safe Schools Equality Index Advisory Member" through Equality Florida. The "Safe School Equality Index" is a comprehensive tool designed to assist Florida's Department of Education, district superintendents, school board members, PTA leaders, district staff and partnering youth centered organizations to meet the rising needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-binary and questioning students in Florida's K-12 schools.[13]

Florida House of Representatives

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Salzman was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020 after defeating incumbent Republican Mike Hill in the primary. She was subsequently re-elected in 2022, defeating Hill in a primary rematch.[14][15]

In March 2021, Salzman was accused by Representative Omari Hardy of calling Representative Webster Barnaby the chamber's "token Black Republican."[16] Salzman vehemently denied making the remark stating "It's an absolute lie,".[16]

In February 2022, Salzman was recorded explaining why she would not co-sponsor a constitutional carry bill in the Florida Legislature. The bill, HB 103 (2022), was not assigned to be heard in any committees or voted on.[17] In the video, Representative Salzman stated the bill would pass during the 2023 legislative session. On January 30, 2023 HB-543 was filed with Salzman as a co-sponsor. The bill passed the Florida House and Senate and was signed into law on April 3, 2023.[18] She was accused of threatening the group that published the recording.[19]

In April 2021, Salzman was quoted as saying that the issue holding her back from prioritizing the cleanup of a toxic landfill in her district was that the surrounding residents were Democrats.[20]

In October 2021, Salzman publicly supported the City of Pensacola's decision to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, and attended the city's ceremony. Salzman is a member of the Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muskogee.[21]

Salzman condemned Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel and expressed her support for Israel and its right to self-defense.[22]

In 2024, Salzman was notified by the Florida Department of State that her campaign expenditures were being audited for several thousand dollars in irregularities.[23] The audit raised additional criticism of Salzman's record of campaign contributions, including $47,500 from the law firm founded by Fred Levin, and contributions totaling $20,890.25 from the Lewis Bear Company alcohol distributorship.[24][23]

In November 2024, Salzman expressed interest in running to replace Congressman Matt Gaetz, upon his nomination as US attorney general and subsequent resignation from Congress. Salzman's potential candidacy was met with criticism, with some "noting she is often quietly not taken seriously in Pensacola-area political circles."[25] She proceeded to officially announce her candidacy on the morning of November 19.[26] She withdrew on November 25, after Donald Trump endorsed Florida chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis.[27]

Controversy

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On November 9, 2023, Democratic state representative Angie Nixon, who introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and the release of hostages by Hamas, broke out in tears amid mounting civilian casualties in Gaza. Nixon asked those present in the Florida House, "We are at 10,000 dead Palestinians, how many will be enough?". Salzman then interrupted, saying, "All of them." Nixon responded by mentioning her comment, saying "One of my colleagues just said all of them, wow."[28][29][30] Salzman initially called the controversy "fake", but then said in a statement: "I am so incredibly sorry for even the slightest of suggestions that I would want an entire community erased. My comments were unapologetically towards the Hamas regime- I never said Palestine."[31]

Committees

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(2023)[32]

  • Appropriations Committee
    • Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, Vice Chair
  • Health & Human Services Committee, Republican Committee Whip
    • Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee
  • Rules Committee

(2024)[32]

  • Appropriations Committee
    • Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Health & Human Services Committee
    • Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee, Chair
  • Rules Committee

Electoral history

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2024

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Florida House 1st district general election, 2024[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michelle Salzman 58,623 65.80%
Democratic Franscine C. Mathis 30,466 34.20%
Total votes 89,089 100%
Republican hold

2022

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Florida House 1st district Republican primary election, 2022[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michelle Salzmam (incumbent) 13,713 65.01%
Republican Mike Hill 7,382 34.99%
Total votes 21,095 100%
Florida House 1st district general election, 2022[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michelle Salzman 43,026 69.27%
Democratic Franscine C. Mathis 19,087 30.73%
Total votes 62,113 100%
Republican hold

2020

[edit]
Florida House 1st district Republican primary election, 2020[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michelle Salzman 11,081 52.48%
Republican Mike Hill (incumbent) 10,032 47.52%
Total votes 21,113 100%
Florida House 1st district general election, 2020[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michelle Salzman 57,363 65.30%
Democratic Franscine C. Mathis 30,485 34.70%
Total votes 87,848 100%
Republican hold

Personal life

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Salzman has three children, two from her previous marriage[12] and one with her husband Phil, with whom she lives in Escambia County.[2] Salzman is a Baptist.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Representative Michelle Salzman". Florida Veterans Foundation. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Michelle Salzman – District 1: Republican". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Michelle Salzman wins race for Florida House Dist. 1 Representative". WEAR-TV. November 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Little, Jim (August 18, 2020). "Michelle Salzman upsets Mike Hill in Florida House District 1 race, secures Republican nomination". Pensacola News Journal.
  5. ^ Newby, Jake (November 3, 2020). "Election 2020: Salzman wins Florida House District 1 seat, knocks off Mathis". Pensacola News Journal.
  6. ^ Misencik, Brittany (November 5, 2024). "Michelle Salzman once again beats Franscine Mathis in Florida House District 1 race". Pensacola News Journal.
  7. ^ "Escambia and Santa Rosa delegations to talk 2023 priorities ahead of legislative session". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Michelle Salzman for Florida House D1 | About Michelle". Michelle Salzman for Florida House District 1.
  9. ^ "House Video Player: House Civil Justice and Property Rights Subcommittee - April 6, 2021". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "2/16/22 House Session - The Florida Channel". thefloridachannel.org. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Johnson, Amanda (January 28, 2022). "Florida Rep. Salzman makes case in support of House Bill 5 by sharing personal experience". WEAR. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Little, Jim (June 26, 2019). "Former Escambia County PTA president challenging Rep. Mike Hill in 2020 Republican primary". Pensacola News Journal.
  13. ^ "Equality Index | Equality Florida" (PDF). eqfl.org. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "There's a rematch in the Florida House-1 GOP primary". WUWF. August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 001 - R Primary Race - Aug 23, 2022". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Florida House Republicans vote to pass controversial 'anti-rioting' legislation". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "HB 103 (2022)". Florida House of Representatives. February 18, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "Florida Senate Bill CS/HB 543". Florida Senate. April 3, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "Rep. Salzman Under Fire for Opposing A Vote for Constitutional Carry". The Floridian. February 18, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  20. ^ admin (April 21, 2021). "Never Free". Inweekly. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  21. ^ "Indigenous Peoples' Day Joins Columbus Day". WUWF. October 11, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Rep. Michelle Salzman gets death threats after Israel-Hamas war remark sparks online fury". Pensacola News Journal. November 10, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Salzman campaign reports questioned". Rick's Blog. January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  24. ^ "Tracing the dollars in Florida's political money puzzle". City & State FL. October 31, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Taylor, Janelle Irwin (November 14, 2024). "With Matt Gaetz tapped for AG, who could fill his congressional seat?". Florida Politics. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  26. ^ WEAR Staff (November 19, 2024). "Rep. Salzman announces she's running for Congress following Gaetz's resignation". WEAR. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Jim Little (November 25, 2024). "Michelle Salzman drops out after Trump backs Jimmy Patronis to fill Matt Gaetz's seat". Penascola News Journal. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Mathur, Aneeta (November 10, 2023). "Republican State Representative in Florida Calls for the Death of 'All' Palestinians During a Call for Ceasefire". The Messenger. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  29. ^ Bicketron, James (November 10, 2023). "Republican Calls for 'All' Palestinians to Die in Viral Video". Newsweek. p. 1. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  30. ^ Salam, Erum (November 10, 2023). "Outrage grows after 'chilling call for genocide' by Florida Republican". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  31. ^ "Florida Republican Under Fire After Calling for Palestinian Deaths". The Daily Beast. November 10, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Michelle Salzman - 2022 - 2024 ( Speaker Renner )". Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  33. ^ "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Escambia County Election Night Results - FL State House 001 - R Primary Race - Aug 8, 2023". enr.electionsfl.org.
  35. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 001 Race - Nov 11, 2022". enr.electionsfl.org.
  36. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 001 - R Primary Race - Aug 18, 2020". Our Campaigns.
  37. ^ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 001 Race - Nov 03, 2020". Our Campaigns.
[edit]
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 1st district
2020–present 		Incumbent
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