Meet the Chair

Nikki Fried is Chair of the Florida Democratic Party and the most recent statewide elected Democrat in the Sunshine State. Born and raised in Miami, she graduated from the University of Florida, where she received her bachelor’s, master’s in political campaigning, and juris doctor degrees. While at the University of Florida, she served as student body president – the first woman to hold the position in nearly two decades.

As the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2018, she became Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, and the first female ever elected to serve as Commissioner–not only in Florida but the entire South. As Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, she helped build the state hemp industry, stood up for LGBTQ+ equality, fought for clean water, improved the gun licensing process, and much more.

Prior to being elected to office, Fried was the head of the Felony Division at the Alachua County Public Defender’s Office and worked in private practice in South Florida, defending homeowners against foreclosure during the 2007-2008 housing crisis. She also worked at law firms as a government consultant, advocating on behalf of clients before the Florida Legislature. In 2017, she formed her own firm to advocate in Tallahassee for at-risk children, the Broward County School Board, and for the expansion of patient access to medical marijuana.

Throughout her career, she has served with numerous organizations including NORML, the Young Lawyers Board of Governors, Chair of the Broward Days Board of Directors, Legal Needs of Children Bar Committee, LeRoy Collins Institute, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, University of Florida Governmental Relations Advisory Committee, University of Florida Board of Trustees, Florida’s Children First, and others.