Lois Frankel

Early life and education

Frankel was born to a Jewish family on May 16, 1948, in New York City and received a bachelor's degree from Boston University in 1970. She earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973. Frankel moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1974.

Florida House of Representatives (1987–2003)

Elections

In 1986 incumbent Democratic state representative Eleanor Weinstock of the 83rd district decided to run for a seat in the Florida Senate. Frankel ran for Weinstock's open seat in the Florida House and defeated Republican nominee Gerald Adams 69%–31%. In 1988 she won reelection to a second term unopposed; in 1990 she again was unopposed.

In November 1991 Frankel resigned as state representative to run for Congress in 1992. Mimi McAndrews, a former aide of Frankel's, was elected to replace her. Frankel lost to fellow Democratic representative Alcee Hastings in the 1992 congressional primary. In 1994 Frankel defeated McAndrews in the Democratic primary for her old State House seat. Frankel won the November general election with 55% of the vote. In 1996, she won reelection to a fifth term with 68% of the vote.

In 1998 Frankel was reelected to a sixth term with 64% of the vote. In 2000 she was reelected to a seventh term with 63% of the vote.

Tenure

During her first period as a state legislator, Frankel was State House Majority Whip. While in office from 1995 to 2003, she became the first female House Minority Leader in Florida's history and co-authored a change to Florida's already existing AIDS omnibus law originally passed in 1988. She left office due to term limits in 2002 after serving 14 years in the State House.

Committee assignments

• Fiscal Responsibility Council
• AIDS Task Force (committee chair)
• Select Committee of the Whole
• Select Committee on Child Abuse & Neglect (committee chair)

1992 congressional election

In 1992 Frankel retired from the State House to run for the newly created Florida's 23rd district. In the Democratic primary she came in first with 35% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold necessary to win outright and avoid a runoff election. In the runoff, former U.S. District Court Judge Alcee Hastings defeated Frankel 57%–43%.

2002 gubernatorial election

In 2002, Frankel entered and then dropped out of the 2002 election for Governor of Florida, in which Governor Jeb Bush won re-election.

Mayor of West Palm Beach (2003–2011)

On March 11, 2003, Frankel defeated incumbent Democratic West Palm Beach Mayor Joel T. Daves III in the mayoral election. She was sworn into office on March 27, 2003. In 2007 she was reelected, defeating Al Zucaro by 58%–42%.

On March 31, 2011, due to term limits, Frankel left office after two terms. In the race to succeed her, West Palm Beach city commissioner Jeri Muoio was elected that month with 51% of the vote, on a platform of business development and pension reform.

U.S. House of Representatives

She is the chair of the Elect Democratic Women PAC.[[File:Lois Frankel, Official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg|thumb|right|Frankel in 2012]]

Elections

2012

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 22

On March 21, 2011, Frankel announced that she would run in the newly redrawn Florida's 22nd congressional district in the 2012 House election. She was initially due to face freshman incumbent Republican Allen West, but redistricting had made the 22nd much more Democratic than its predecessor, prompting West to move to the neighboring 18th district and seek reelection there. On August 14 Frankel won the Democratic primary over Kristin Jacobs, and advanced to the general election against Republican Adam Hasner.

Frankel was criticized for accepting $20,000 from Digital Domain Media Group for her campaign five months after the company was awarded a downtown project that included incentives from the city of West Palm Beach, and in response vowed to give the contribution to charity. She won the general election on November 6, 2012, defeating Hasner 54.7% to 45.3%.

2014

Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 22

With no Democratic primary opponents, Frankel won the general election on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican Paul Spain, winner of his low-turnout primary, 58% to 42%.

2016

Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 21

For her first two terms, Frankel represented a district covering several coastal areas in southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County, from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale.

After a Florida Supreme Court-ordered redistricting, Frankel's district was renumbered the 21st. It lost its share of Broward County, becoming a more compact district in southern Palm Beach County. The justices suggested that it was more logical to have just one district splitting Broward and Palm Beach counties. Her opponent was again Republican Paul Spain. The new 21st was no less Democratic than the old 22nd, and Frankel won with 63% of the vote to Spain's 35%.

2018

Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 21

With no primary or general opponents, Frankel was reelected.

2020

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 21

With 86% of the vote, Frankel won the Democratic primary against Guido Weiss, a former adviser to Representative Tulsi Gabbard. Frankel went on to win the November general election, defeating Republican nominee Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist. Loomer's candidacy was widely considered a long shot, despite endorsements from high-profile Republicans including President Donald Trump, Representative Matt Gaetz, and former Trump adviser Roger Stone.

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 22

Lois Frankel ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Dan Franzese in the general election, winning 55% to Franzese's 44%.

2024

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 22

Incumbent Lois Frankel ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. She faced a rematch with Republican challenger Dan Franzese in the general election. Frankel defeated Franzese again, this time by 10 points.

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Caucus memberships

Current

• Black Maternal Health Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Taiwan Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
• Congressional Equality Caucus

Former

• Congressional Progressive Caucus ( 2016–2023)

Political positions

Foreign policy

Frankel supported President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying, "The President's announcement today is consistent with current U.S. law and reaffirms what we already know: Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel."

Gun policy

Frankel supports gun control measures, which she calls "common-sense legislation." Specifically, she supports a high-capacity magazine ban, universal background checks, and a ban on bump stocks. Frankel supports repealing the 1996 Dickey Amendment, which discourages the CDC from researching gun violence prevention. Following the Pulse nightclub shooting, Frankel said, "This Congress offers lots of thoughts and sympathies when people are massacred by firearms, but no action to stop the carnage." After the Sutherland Springs church shooting, Frankel expressed her frustration with gun lobbying organizations and the inaction of Congress, saying: "We'll pause for a moment of silence and then this Congress will do nothing because the NRA has a stranglehold on it." She has an "F" rating from the NRA, indicating that the organization does not believe that she protects gun rights.

During her tenure in the House, Frankel has voted on several pieces of gun legislation. She voted against H. R. 38 (the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act), which would enable concealed carry reciprocity among all states. In March 2017 Frankel voted against the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, which would allow veterans who are considered "mentally incompetent" to purchase ammunition and firearms unless declared a danger by a judge.

Impeachment of President Donald Trump

Frankel voted to impeach Trump on December 18, 2019 and again on January 13, 2021.

Electoral history

U.S. House of Representatives (1992)

U.S. House of Representatives (2012–present)

References

References

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3. "Lois J. Frankel, Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach". City of [[West Palm Beach]] government.
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6. "Our Campaigns – November 6, 1990". ourcampaigns.com.
7. Ashley Fantz. (November 15, 2001). "Florida House minority leader Lois Frankel is waging an impossible campaign for governor". Broward/Long Beach New Times.
8. (September 9, 1994). "Frankel Scores Victory In Bitter House Race". Sun Sentinel.
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19. (2018-09-20). "Democratic Women in Congress Launch Campaign to Recruit More Female Candidates".
20. Trygstad, Kyle. (2003-03-21). "Lois Frankel Launches Bid Against Allen West". [[Roll Call]].
21. (2016-08-30). "2016 Florida Election Watch – U.S. Representative".
22. "Frankel to give Digital Domain's $20,000 in campaign...".
23. "Frankel beats out Hasner in race for U.S. Congress". New York Daily News.
24. "November 4, 2014 General Election Official Results". Florida Department of State Division of Elections.
25. (December 3, 2015). "Ted Deutch to run in Broward-based district, leaving Lois Frankel to run in all-Palm Beach County district". [[Sun-Sentinel]].
26. Man, Anthony. (4 May 2018). "Lois Frankel wins re-election to Congress after no one comes forward to challenge her".
27. "August 18, 2020 Primary Election Official Results".
28. (November 4, 2020). "Florida Election Results: 21st Congressional District". [[The New York Times]].
29. Watson, Kathryn. (August 18, 2020). "Far-right candidate Laura Loomer wins GOP primary for district that covers Mar-a-Lago".
30. Spencer, Terry. (August 20, 2020). "Meet Trump's long-shot candidate running for his Florida district".
31. Blake, Andrew. (November 4, 2020). "Laura Loomer, GOP candidate and activist, loses long-shot House campaign in Florida race".
32. Sommer, Will. (November 4, 2020). "Far-Right Activist Laura Loomer Loses House Bid".
33. Elfrink, Tim. (August 19, 2020). "'Great going': Trump praises right-wing activist Laura Loomer after her Florida GOP primary win". [[The Washington Post]].
34. "Lois Frankel". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
35. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus.
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40. "About the CEC". CEC.
41. (November 20, 2023). "Florida Democrat Who Voted to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib Quits Progressive Caucus".
42. (December 6, 2017). "Florida reaction to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel". Tampa Bay Times.
43. (6 October 2017). "Congresswoman Lois Frankel calls for action on gun control". U. S. Federal Government.
44. Shabad, Rebecca. (2 December 2015). "Democrats renew push to reverse gun violence research ban". CBS Interactive.
45. (15 June 2016). "It is Time for Congress to Do its Job". U. S. Federal Government.
46. Bennett, George. (6 November 2017). "Texas massacre: Lois Frankel offers prediction on congressional response". Palm Beach Post.
47. (20 February 2018). "Where South Floridians in Congress stand on gun legislation". Miami Herald.
48. (6 December 2017). "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 663". U.S. Federal Government.
49. (16 March 2017). "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 169". U.S. Federal Government.
50. (January 13, 2021). "Here's how the House voted on Trump's second impeachment".
51. "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump".
52. (1 September 1992). "1992 FL District 23 Democratic primary".
53. (1 October 1992). "1992 FL District 23 Democratic primary runoff".
54. (14 August 2012). "2012 FL District 22 Democratic primary".
55. (6 November 2012). "2012 FL District 22 general election".
56. (4 November 2014). "2014 FL District 22 general election".
57. (8 November 2016). "2016 FL District 21 general election".
58. (6 November 2018). "2018 FL general election".
59. (18 August 2020). "2020 FL District 21 Democratic primary".
60. (3 November 2020). "2020 FL District 21 general election".
61. (8 November 2022). "2022 FL District 22 general election".
62. (5 November 2024). "2022 FL District 22 general election".