Tom A. Wright

Tom A. Wright (born 16 May 1952) is an American businessman and Republican politician who has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2018. Wright represents the 8th district, encompassing parts of Brevard and Volusia counties.

Florida Senate Incumbent Dorothy Hukill died of cervical cancer on October 2, 2018, just over a month before the election. A six-member panel of Republican Party officials from Brevard and Volusia counties selected Wright as Hukill's replacement.

Because ballots for the November 6, 2018 general election had already been printed by the time Wright was named as Hukill's replacement, his name did not appear on the ballot; instead, votes for Hukill were counted as votes for Wright. Wright was elected with 56.33% of the vote, defeating Democrat Melissa "Mel" Martin.

Potential resignation On April 6, 2020, Wright resigned from the Florida Senate citing a "staff control dispute," but rescinded his resignation the following week to remain in office.

Domestic Violence Shelter altercation In September 2023, Wright was involved in an "angry confrontation" with a domestic violence shelter employee; Daytona Beach Police officers were dispatched to intervene and investigate. Six year before the incident, Wright had been banned from the facility for "inappropriate and lewd behavior" after he allegedly "flirted with and preyed on a young mother" who was fleeing Hurricane Irma with her infant. In response to the altercation, Florida Senate president Kathleen Passidomo described the allegations as "troubling." Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried called for a "full and transparent investigation" into the events and said: "There is no excuse for Sen. Wright to lay a hand on anyone, much less a woman working to protect her clients at a shelter for abused women." Following an investigation, the Daytona Beach Police Department issued Wright a "warning" for trespassing and ordered him to stay off the property.

Personal life A native of Iowa, Wright moved to Florida in 2004. He lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.