In a surprising turn of events for the Florida Legislature, a 17‑year‑old high‑school student from Jupiter played a pivotal role in flipping District 94. Hannah Russell, a junior at Jupiter High School, was hired by candidate Elizabeth Holmes after meeting her at a school‑board meeting where Holmes advocated for higher teacher pay.
From intern to campaign manager
Holmes initially brought Russell on as an intern, but within weeks asked her to take over as campaign manager. “I couldn’t hire somebody better than her,” Holmes said. “She just did everything.” Russell, who admitted she did not yet have a high‑school diploma, described the experience as both daunting and exhilarating.
Grassroots tactics that delivered results
Russell organized door‑knocking drives, coordinated voter‑call lists, arranged campaign events, and mobilized supporters to get to the polls. She balanced these duties with her schoolwork, noting, “It was very difficult. I’m still trying to recover some of my grades.” Despite the pressure, Russell said she loved every second of the experience.
Election outcome and future plans
Holmes credited Russell as a key factor in the upset victory over incumbent Meg Weinberger, stating, “We won. I could not have done it without her.” The win marks one of the biggest upsets in this year’s state‑legislature races. While Holmes plans to serve in Tallahassee, Russell intends to attend college and has not confirmed whether she will continue working on the campaign.
Both women emphasized that they will stay in touch, highlighting the lasting mentorship that emerged from this unlikely partnership.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
