TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- From college senior to freshman legislator. And now, incumbent lawmaker.

  • Amber Mariano, a state rep from New Port Richey, is running again
  • Mariano is youngest person ever elected to Florida House
  • Mariano turned 21 just over a month before she was elected

The youngest person ever elected to Florida's House of Representatives is nearing the end of her first term.

Now, Amber Mariano is keeping her goals high after two years in office and aiming for re-election.

"Everything in my life I've been working up to something like this," Mariano said after being elected in 2016. "I've always wanted to run for office. I didn't think it would be at this point in my life, but I've always set myself up in everything I do so I can make this step."

Mariano was 20 and entering her last year at the University of Central Florida when she made up her mind to run for office. Her target: the State House's 36th district seat.

A Republican representing New Port Richey, Mariano turned 21 just five weeks before she was elected, making her the youngest person ever to serve in the Florida House. But she said don’t let her age fool you. 

"I balanced school, work and the campaign in two different cities, so it was a lot of work," she said. "But I think persistence really helped me."

You might recognize the last name: Her father, Jack Mariano, has served on the Pasco County Commission since 2004.

Since taking office, Mariano has co-sponsored and voted in favor of bills on issues like preventing discrimination against the LGBT community and making written threats or mass shootings illegal. 

This fall, she will run for re-election against Democratic challenger Linda Jack in the general election. 

Not only is she the youngest person ever elected to Florida's House, but Mariano is also part of a minority in the state legislature. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, she's one of 41 female lawmakers in both the House and Senate out of 160 seats.

Those are numbers Mariano would like to see shift.

"When women run, they win," she said. "It's not about them winning. It's about getting them to run."