Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., 83, is retiring from Congress after a wave of absences from the House floor in April and May—stepping down not long after she denied a “crazy rumor” that she was exiting—and amid increased pressure on older members of Congress to exit.
Wilson announced her exit from Congress on Friday morning.
Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
Wilson, 83, told the Miami Herald she would not seek her ninth term in Congress, saying, “I think it’s time.”
From mid-April through part of May, Wilson all but disappeared from Congress, missing 43 consecutive votes while still remaining active on social media.
Wilson noted she was not retiring from political work, telling the Herald she is working on a memoir and may work to register voters.
The congresswoman initially denied a “crazy rumor” earlier this month that she was retiring from Congress, telling Axios, “I am still planning on running.”
Wilson also told the Herald she held off on announcing her exit from Congress because of a redrawing of Florida’s congressional maps, expressing concern her district might be “an easy target” without her leading it.
Wilson’s district remains Democratic-leaning following the changes to Florida’s congressional map.
Wilson said her absence was due to surgery she received on her left eye, noting in a statement earlier this month that she was unable to fly under her doctors’ orders. The congresswoman said she stayed active in local political and advocacy work during her time away from the House.
43. That is how many consecutive votes Wilson missed from April 17 to May 14.
Wilson first joined Congress in 2011 representing Florida’s 17th district. She represented the state’s 24th district, which incorporates Miami Beach, eastern Miami-Dade County and parts of southern Broward county. Dr. Rudolph Moise, a Democrat who recently dropped out of the race for Florida’s 20th Congressional District, is running for Wilson’s district. State Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones is not running for reelection and may also look to replace Wilson as a lead contender for her seat. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert is also a likely candidate, according to the Herald, reporting he has over $1 million remaining in his political committee.
2 House Members Have Been Absent For Weeks, Missing Dozens Of Votes (Forbes)
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