Michele Kenyette Rayner, born September 25, 1981, is a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives serving District 62 since 2020. She is an attorney and the first Black lesbian woman elected to the Florida legislature, making history as an openly queer Black representative. Raised in Clearwater, Florida, by activist parents who integrated the University of South Florida, Rayner lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Bianca and their dogs. Notable achievements include representing the family of Markeis McGlockton in a high-profile "Stand Your Ground" case, staging a 2022 sit-in against congressional redistricting, receiving the 2026 Torchbearer "Carrying Change" Illuminator Award, and earning recognitions like AVVO Top Rated Attorney and Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

Education and Political Experience

Education: Florida State University ; Florida Coastal School of Law .

Political Experience: Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2011, Rayner worked as an assistant public defender in Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit and in private practice before entering politics. Elected in 2020 to Florida House District 70 , she won the Democratic primary with 31.3% and was uncontested in the general election; reelected subsequently, with terms through 2028. She serves as Director of Development at Florida Rising, advocating for economic justice, racial equity, climate action, and prison reform, while building bipartisan alliances in the legislature. Endorsed by groups like Equality Florida and the Florida Education Association.