Laurel was elected to Congress on November 8, 2022. As an America First conservative and member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, she immediately made the crises on our southern border a top priority. She is leading the charge to hold the Biden administration accountable for their failure and served as one of the impeachment managers for the House against the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Additionally, Laurel understands the many problems facing our country, skyrocketing gas prices, government overreach at every turn, a failed commitment to our nation’s military and securing our borders, and now, disturbing trends from the government thinking they know what is best for our children and families. Laurel knows that Florida needs leaders in Congress who will stand up for them and conservative values and principles. As a former judge and prosecutor, Laurel has worked side-by-side with law enforcement to enforce and uphold the laws of our nation and has an unwavering commitment to the brave men and women of law enforcement who serve and protect every day.

Laurel was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as Florida’s 36th Secretary of State in January 2019 and served in this position until May 2022. During her tenure as Secretary of State, Laurel worked to strengthen Florida’s elections infrastructure and cybersecurity defenses, increasing voter registration and participation and ensuring accurate and secure elections in Florida. Following Florida’s successful 2020 election, Laurel was recognized as a national leader in election policy and security. She was a member of the Republican State Leadership Committee Election Integrity Commission. In Congress, she chairs the Elections Subcommittee, working to ensure all election officials have the tools and resources they need to have secure and accurate elections.

Prior to serving in the DeSantis administration, Laurel served as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida, appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott. Before becoming a judge, Laurel served as a federal prosecutor for the United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida. As a federal prosecutor, she investigated and prosecuted a wide range of criminal offenses, including white-collar crime, violent crime, and offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Laurel served as the lead prosecutor for the Child Exploitation Task Force, developed as part of a nationwide effort to combat domestic sex trafficking of children.

Raised by a two-star general in the United States Air Force and a public school teacher, Laurel has family ties in eastern Hillsborough County that go back more than 70 years. Laurel’s husband, former Senate President Tom Lee, served the area in the state Senate.