Sean Shaw

Shaw was born in Jacksonville, Florida on March 17, 1978. His father was Leander J Shaw Jr., who would later serve on the Supreme Court of Florida, becoming Florida's first African-American chief justice. As a result of his father's position, Shaw grew up in Tallahassee, Florida.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/Times-recommends-In-Democratic-primary-Sean-Shaw-for-attorney-general_169764486|title=Times recommends: In Democratic primary, Sean Shaw for attorney general|date=2018-07-30|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}} Shaw attended Princeton University and graduated with an A.B. in politics in 2000 after completing a 76-page long senior thesis, titled "How Can the Republican Party Turn Black Conservatism into Black Votes?", under the supervision of Tali Mendelberg.{{Cite journal|last=Shaw|first=Sean Michael|date=2000|title=How Can the Republican Party Turn Black Conservatism into Black Votes?|url=http://dataspace.princeton.edu/jspui/handle/88435/dsp01zs25xb15f}} He later attended the University of Florida, receiving his Juris Doctor in 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}}

From 2003 until 2008, Shaw began working in various law firms across Florida, including Akerman Senterfitt Law Firm and Caparello and Self. In 2008, Shaw was appointed Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate by then-Governor Charlie Crist. Shaw served as Insurance Consumer Advocate until 2010, when he took a position at Merlin Law Group.

In 2014, incumbent state representative Betty Reed was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Shaw decided to run for her district, District 61, facing teacher Sharon Carter, Democratic Party secretary Tatiana Denson and lawyer Edwin Narain in the Democratic primary.{{Cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/258310-educator-sharon-carter-enters-house-district-61-race|title=Educator Sharon Carter enters House District 61 race|last=Perry|first=Mitch|date=7 March 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}} The primary became a contest between Narain and the well funded Shaw. Despite Shaw earning the endorsement of former governor Crist, former congressman Jim Davis, former chief financial officer of Florida Alex Sink, and a number of state legislators, Narain won the primary with 42% of the vote. Shaw placed second, receiving 34.5% of the vote. Narain was unopposed in the general election.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sean_Shaw|title=Sean Shaw|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}}

In 2016, Narain did not run for re-election, opting instead to run for Florida Senate. Shaw once again ran for District 61. In the Democratic primary, Shaw faced activist Dianne Hart and radio host Walter L. Smith.{{Cite web|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/208030-democrat-walter-lee-smith-ii-makes-hd-61-seat-three-person-primary|title=Democrat Walter Lee Smith II makes HD 61 seat a three person primary|last=Perry|first=Mitch|date=27 April 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}} Shaw narrowly defeated Hart, receiving 43% to Hart's 41%, with Smith a distant third with 15%. Shaw was unopposed in the general election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/shaw-ahead-in-early-voting-for-house-district-61/2291567|title=Sean Shaw elected to House District 61 after narrow primary victory|date=2016-08-30|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}}

In 2019, Shaw accepted a position with [https://www.vanguardinjuryattorneys.com/ Vanguard Attorneys] where he works alongside former State Senator Arthenia Joyner.{{Cite web|last=Rosica|first=Jim|date=2019-01-31|title=Personnel note: Sean Shaw joins Vanguard Attorneys in Tampa|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/287007-personnel-note-sean-shaw|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US}}

Currently, Shaw is an attorney with the [https://www.swoperodante.com/ Swope, Rodante P.A.] law firm located in Ybor City, FL.

In 2018, incumbent Republican Florida attorney general Pam Bondi was unable to run for re-election due to term limits. Shaw decided to run to succeed her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-reg-sean-shaw-attorney-general-20180117-story.html|title=Son of former chief justice running for Florida attorney general|last=Florida|first=Jim Turner, News Service of|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-16}} In the Democratic primary, he faced attorney Ryan Torrens. However, Shaw attempted to sue Torrens off the ballot, claiming he had improperly transferred money into his campaign account in order to qualify for the primary. Circuit judge Karen Gievers of Tallahassee ruled in Shaw's favor, and ordered Torrens to be removed from the ballot just a week before the primary election. Though an appellate court suspended Gievers ruling pending a review, meaning Torrens would still be on the ballot for election day, Shaw defeated Torrens, receiving 73% to Torrens' 27%.

In the general election, Shaw faced former judge Ashley Moody. Due to Bondi's reputation as a contentious figure in the state, the race became heavily watched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article220515170.html|title=They want to be Florida attorney general. But they have two different views of the job.|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}} Shaw criticized Moody for being an ally to Bondi, and he ran on a progressive platform of gun safety reforms, removing public corruption, defending civil and equal rights, and serving as a check on the Republican Legislature.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/10/03/voter-guide-sean-shaw-ashley-moody-florida-attorney-general-race/1301876002/|title=Sean Shaw vs. Ashley Moody: Voter guide to Florida Attorney General candidates on ballot|website=Tallahassee Democrat|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}} Shaw also said that, if elected, he would withdraw Florida from a lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article219031845.html|title=Sean Shaw, as attorney general, can take Florida in a more enlightened direction|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}} Despite his efforts, Moody defeated Shaw, 52% to 46%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/politics/elections/hillsborough-county-native-ashley-moody-elected-florida-attorney-general/67-611949507|title=Hillsborough County native Ashley Moody elected Florida attorney general|website=10NEWS|access-date=2019-03-16}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4626&LegislativeTermId=87 Florida House of Representatives - Sean Shaw]
• [https://seanshaw.com/ Sean Shaw for Attorney General]

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Florida House of Representatives
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{{s-aft|after=Dianne Hart}}

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{{s-bef|before=George Sheldon}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Florida|years=2018}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:African-American state legislators in Florida

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:Florida lawyers

Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections