After donning many hats in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) has announced the latest hat she'll wear – that of a retiree.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives' 17th district in 2011, Rep. Wilson soon represented the 24th district since 2013, and she hasn't stopped since.
During remarks shared at an event unveiling a Miami area street named in her, the Florida Democrat announced that she would not be seeking re-election.
"This has been a journey, but it’s time. It’s time. And I know all of you are wondering, ‘What is the congresswoman going to do?’ Well, the congresswoman is going to not seek another term,” she said during her remarks.
Rep. Wilson explained that she would instead travel across the country to promote the 500 Role Models program which helps boys and young men of color.
After her announcement, a wave of support flooded social media, praising Rep. Wilson for her time in office and wishing her much success in her future endeavors.
On social media, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called Rep. Wilson "a true daughter of Miami." In a statement, the Miami-Dade County Mayor expressed that “few leaders have left a legacy or made a mark in South Florida as deep and far reaching as Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.”
“Congresswoman Wilson believes deeply in the potential of young people and works tirelessly to help them succeed,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Cava commented. “Her impact lives on in the people she mentored and the opportunities she created for others.”
In an interview with The Miami Herald, the Florida Democrat shared that she waited to announce her retirement until after the redistricting maps were shared to ensure that her district was not targeted.
“I figured if I announced that I was retiring, what would the Legislature and the governor do? ... Would District 24 be an easy target because Frederica is no longer there? I’m a strong candidate," she told The Miami Herald.
