Frederica Wilson

Frederica Smith Wilson is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 24th congressional district, a position she has held since 2011. Born in Miami, Florida, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fisk University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Miami. Before entering politics, Wilson worked as an elementary school teacher and principal at Skyway Elementary School. Her political career began on the Miami-Dade County School Board, where she served from 1992 to 1998 and founded the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, an initiative aimed at guiding at-risk minority youth toward college and professional careers. Wilson later served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002 and the Florida Senate from 2002 until 2010. First elected to Congress in 2010, she has focused her legislative work on education, civil rights, and workforce development. She has served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Wilson is notably the first Bahamian American to serve in the U.S. Congress and is well-known for her advocacy on behalf of minority communities and her distinctive collection of hats.

Representative Wilson's policy positions emphasize social justice, economic equity, and education. She is a supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for universal healthcare coverage, such as Medicare-for-All, and lower prescription drug costs. On economic issues, she supports increasing the federal minimum wage, investing in infrastructure to create high-paying jobs in underserved communities, and strengthening labor unions through legislation like the PRO Act. Wilson is a proponent of comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and permanent protections for DACA recipients. She has been a leading voice for Haitian immigrants, frequently advocating for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Her environmental platform includes support for bold climate action and initiatives like the Green New Deal to address sea-level rise and environmental justice. Additionally, she advocates for criminal justice reform, the protection of voting rights, and stricter gun control measures, including universal background checks.