Michelle Salzman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the1st district | |
| Assumed office November 3, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1977-07-05)July 5, 1977 (age 47) Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Phillip Salzman |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Pensacola State College (AAS) University of West Florida (BSBA) |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Yugoslav Wars |
Michelle Salzman (née Hisle,[1] born July 5, 1977)[2] is an American politician, businesswoman, andArmy veteran currently serving as aRepublican member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the1st District sinceNovember 2020.[2][3] She defeated incumbentMike Hill in the Republican primary andDemocrat Franscine Mathis in the general election.[4][5] She was re-elected in2022 and2024.[6]
Salzman currently serves as the junior most state legislator forEscambia County; her district primarily including the northern portion of Escambia County.[7]
Salzman was raised inPensacola, 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 anexotic dancer. She obtained anAssociate of Applied Science degree fromPensacola State College[12]
Salzman earned herBachelor of Science in Business Administration from theUniversity of West Florida.[2]
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" throughEquality 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]
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 RepresentativeOmari Hardy of calling RepresentativeWebster 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 condemnedHamas's October 2023 attack on Israel and expressed her support forIsrael 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 byFred 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, afterDonald Trump endorsedFlorida chief financial officerJimmy Patronis.[27]
On November 9, 2023, Democratic state representativeAngie Nixon, who introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the2023 Israel–Hamas war and the release ofhostages 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]
(2023)[32]
(2024)[32]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Salzman | 58,623 | 65.80% | |
| Democratic | Franscine C. Mathis | 30,466 | 34.20% | |
| Total votes | 89,089 | 100% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Salzmam (incumbent) | 13,713 | 65.01% | |
| Republican | Mike Hill | 7,382 | 34.99% | |
| Total votes | 21,095 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Salzman | 43,026 | 69.27% | |
| Democratic | Franscine C. Mathis | 19,087 | 30.73% | |
| Total votes | 62,113 | 100% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Salzman | 11,081 | 52.48% | |
| Republican | Mike Hill (incumbent) | 10,032 | 47.52% | |
| Total votes | 21,113 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michelle Salzman | 57,363 | 65.30% | |
| Democratic | Franscine C. Mathis | 30,485 | 34.70% | |
| Total votes | 87,848 | 100% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
Salzman has three children, two from her previous marriage[12] and one with her husband Phil, with whom she lives inEscambia County.[2] Salzman is a Baptist.[2]
| Florida House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the1st district 2020–present | Incumbent |
