Traci Koster
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Traci Koster
| image = Official legislative portrait of State Representative Traci Koster.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|06|15}}
| birth_place = Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
| party = Republican
| office = Member of the Florida House of Representatives
| constituency = 64th district (2020–2022)
66th district (2022–present)
| predecessor = J. W. Grant
| successor =
| term_start = November 3, 2020
| term_end =
| children = 2
| education = University of Central Florida (BS)
Stetson University (JD)
| website = [https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4779&LegislativeTermId=89 Government website]
}}
Traci Koster (born June 15, 1985){{cite web|title=Traci Koster|url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4779&LegislativeTermId=89|website= myfloridahouse.gov}} is an attorney and politician who is the state representative for District 64 in Florida. A Republican, she was elected in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Traci Koster wins Florida House District 64 race|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2020/11/03/traci-koster-narrowly-leads-in-florida-house-district-64-race/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Tampa Bay Times}} The district covers parts of Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.{{Cite web|title=Florida State House - District 64 Election Results | The Register-Guard|url=https://www.registerguard.com/elections/results/race/2020-11-03-state-house-FL-10265/|website=www.registerguard.com}}
Early life and education
Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Koster was raised in Pinellas and Hillsborough County, Florida.{{Cite web|title=Traci Koster, Lawyer at Bush Ross, P.A. {{!}} LawyerDB.org|url=http://www.lawyerdb.org/Lawyer/Traci-Koster/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=www.lawyerdb.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/368789-meet-traci-koster-the-last-minute-republican-running-against-jessica-harrington-in-hd-64|title=Meet Traci Koster, the Republican running just-in-time for House District 64|first=Janelle Irwin|last=Taylor|date=September 22, 2020}} She graduated from Tarpon Springs High School.{{Cite web|title=The GOP incumbent bailed on House District 64. Can a Democrat win it?|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2020/10/18/the-gop-incumbent-bailed-on-house-district-64-can-a-democrat-win-it/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en}} She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in legal studies from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from the Stetson University College of Law.{{Cite web|title=Traci L. Koster|url=https://nelsonkoster.com/traci-l-koster/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Nelson Koster|language=en-US}} Koster is a family law attorney.
Political career
When incumbent Republican J. W. Grant resigned from the Florida House after being appointed Florida's chief information officer by Governor Ron DeSantis, Republican leaders in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties designated Koster as Grant's replacement on the 2020 ballot.{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Janelle Irwin|date=2020-09-22|title=Meet Traci Koster, the Republican running just-in-time for House District 64|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/368789-meet-traci-koster-the-last-minute-republican-running-against-jessica-harrington-in-hd-64|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Henderson|first=Joe|date=2020-08-16|title=Traci Koster assumes Jamie Grant's spot as Republican nominee for HD 64|work=Florida Politics|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/358528-traci-koster-assumes-jamie-grants-spot-as-republican-nominee-for-hd-64}} In the November general election, Koster defeated Democratic nominee Jessica Harrington.{{Cite web|title=Traci Koster wins Florida House District 64 race|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2020/11/03/traci-koster-narrowly-leads-in-florida-house-district-64-race/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en}}
Elections
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2020 Florida's 64th House district General Election{{cite web|title=2020 Florida's 64th House district General Election Results|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/DetailRpt.Asp?ELECTIONDATE=11/3/2020&RACE=STR&PARTY=&DIST=064&GRP=&DATAMODE=|website=Results Elections My Florida}} }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Traci Koster
|votes = 55,874
|percentage = 54.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jessica Harrington
|votes = 47,426
|percentage = 45.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 103,300
|percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title= General election for Florida House of Representatives District 66, 2022 }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Traci Koster
|votes = 45,305
|percentage = 60.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jessica Harrington
|votes = 30,027
|percentage = 39.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 75,332
|percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Cite web |title=Traci Koster |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Traci_Koster |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-fl-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=J. W. Grant}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 64th district|years=2020–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Florida House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koster, Traci}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Tampa, Florida
Category:Christians from Florida
Category:Politicians from Greensboro, North Carolina
Category:People from Pinellas County, Florida
Category:People from Hillsborough County, Florida
Category:University of Central Florida alumni
Category:Stetson University College of Law alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Florida
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature
{{Florida-FLRepresentative-Republican-stub}}