The incumbent, Democrat Yvonne Hayes Hinson, is not seeking re-election, meaning the race for District 21, which covers parts of Alachua and Marion counties, is an open seat. Jacquelyn “Jackie” Randall won a five-way Democratic primary in August. As those five candidates were the only ones who qualified for the race, the primary was open to all voters in the district, and as the winner of the primary, Randall is elected to the office.
News4JAX sent questionnaires to each candidate asking about their background and views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES |
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Randall
Occupation: Associate Professor of Respiratory and former-Mayor of Hawthorne
Age: 42
Family: I am the proud mother of three children. My family has been my greatest motivation for serving our community.
Education: B.S.-Cardiopulmonary Science and MBA- healthcare administration
Political experience: I was elected to the Hawthorne City Commission in 2019 and was selected by my fellow commissioners to serve as Mayor from 2021-2026.
Former board member of Florida league of mayors, Florida Black caucus of local elected officials (member only), Alachua County education foundation and Alachua County NAACP.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
The biggest issues facing our district are affordability, access to healthcare, and strengthening public education. I will fight to lower insurance and everyday costs for working families, expand healthcare access in our rural communities, and fully support our public schools while creating more workforce training opportunities. My experience as both a healthcare provider and mayor has taught me how to bring people together and deliver practical solutions.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I bring firsthand experience serving our community both as a frontline healthcare provider and as a small-town mayor. I’ve cared for families during their most difficult moments, secured millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements, expanded educational opportunities, and worked every day to solve problems rather than score political points. I understand the unique challenges facing rural communities because I’ve lived them, and I’ll be a strong, accessible voice for District 21 in Tallahassee.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope people remember that I fought for working families, strengthened our public schools, protected access to healthcare, and made sure rural communities finally had a seat at the table. Most of all, I want to be remembered as someone who listened, showed up, and delivered real results for the people I was elected to serve.
Campaign website: jackieforflorida.com
Campaign social media: Facebook