Summary
Current Position: US Representative of FL District 21 since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: Mayor of West Palm Beach from 2003 – 2011; State Delegate from 1986 – 1992
Other positions: Chair, AIDS Task Force; Select Committee on Child Abuse & Neglect
District: Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, as well as unincorporated Palm Beach County.
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News
About
Source: Government page
From the student antiwar protests of the ‘60s to her election to Congress in 2012 where she represents South Florida, Congresswoman Lois Frankel has spent her lifetime delivering positive change to her community as a civic leader, state legislator, mayor, and now Member of the United States House of Representatives where she sits on the House Appropriations Committee and House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs
A trailblazer in the Florida State Legislature, Lois served as the first woman Democratic minority leader. She became a leading force to improve the economic condition of families and seniors and protect human rights and women’s reproductive freedom – fights she continues today in Congress as co-chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Prior to her election to Congress, Lois served as Mayor of West Palm Beach, raising her city to a new vitality and earning a reputation as an innovative problem solver.
On a personal note, Lois is an avid abstract painter and is most proud of her son Ben, a United States Marine war veteran.
Personal
Full Name: Lois J. Frankel
Gender: Female
Family: 1 Child: Benjamin
Birth Date: 05/16/1948
Birth Place: New York City, NY
Home City: West Palm Beach, FL
Religion: Jewish
Source: Vote Smart
Education
JD, Georgetown University Law Center, 1973
BA, Boston University, 1970
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 22, 2023-present
Representative, United State House of Representatives, Florida, District 21, 2017-2023
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 22, 2022
Representative, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 22, 2012-2016
Mayor, West Palm Beach, 2003-2011
Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, District 85, 1986-1992, 1994-2002
Minority Leader, Florida State House of Representatives, District 85, 2000-2002
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 23, 1992
Majority Whip, Human Resources Development, 1988-1990
Professional Experience
Partner, Ricci, Hubbard, Leopold, Frankel, 1990-present
Partner, Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, 1978-1994
Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, 1974-1978
Law Clerk, Honorable Judge David Norman, Washington, District of Columbia, 1973-1974
Offices
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
** We’ve moved! **
2305 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
phone:
202-225-9890
BOCA RATON OFFICE
2500 N. Military Trail, Suite 490
Boca Raton, FL 33431
phone
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
| I currently serve on the House Committee on Appropriations. The Appropriations Committee is the body that writes the laws that direct federal funding. I am honored to have an extraordinary opportunity to advocate for South Floridians at the highest level of government advancing investments in health care, education, better infrastructure, and global peace. You can learn more about the Committee here. The deadline for Appropriations-related requests for the FY 2024 funding cycle has passed. Below are my subcommittees: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Issues and agencies include:
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Issues and agencies include:
|
New Legislation
Issues
Source: Government page
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
Florida’s 22nd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Southeast Florida. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, it was drawn as a successor to the previous 21st district and includes Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, as well as unincorporated Palm Beach County. The previous iteration of the 22nd district, which extended from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton, was instead renamed the 23rd district.
The district was created in 1993 in response to the 1990 United States census, mostly out of the former 15th District. E. Clay Shaw, Jr., who had represented the 15th and its predecessors since 1981, represented this district until 2007, when he lost re-election to Democrat Ron Klein. However, Klein himself was ousted by Republican Allen West during the 2010 midterms. After redistricting made the 22nd friendlier to Democrats, West left the district for an unsuccessful bid for re-election in the 18th district.
The 22nd Congressional District was the center of the disputed 2000 presidential election in Florida and the ensuing recount. From 2017 to 2023, the district encompassed the coastline of Broward County to southern Palm Beach County and included Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and part of Pompano Beach. It also included Florida Atlantic University and Port Everglades, the third busiest cruise port in the world.
The new district is represented by Democrat Lois Frankel, an incumbent from the 21st district who was re-elected in 2022. Fellow Democrat Ted Deutch represented the old 22nd congressional district from 2017 after he was redistricted from Florida’s 21st congressional district until his resignation on September 30, 2022.
The new 22nd district has one of the highest populations of Jewish Americans in the country. In 2020, the election between two Jewish candidates, Democratic incumbent Rep. Lois Frankel and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, drew national attention. Loomer used Holocaust imagery and Yiddish to attack Frankel as an opponent of Jewish interests.[5]
Wikipedia
Lois Jane Frankel (/ˈfræŋkəl/ FRANK-əl; born May 16, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer who has been the United States representative for Florida’s 22nd congressional district since 2013 (numbered as the 21st from 2017 to 2023). She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Frankel was a member of the Florida House of Representatives for fourteen years, serving as Minority Leader of the Florida State House.[1] She was elected mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida, in 2003,[1] serving two terms in office until leaving office in 2011 due to term limits.
Early life and education
Frankel was born to a Jewish family on May 16, 1948[2] 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.[3] Frankel moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1974.[1]
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%.[4] In 1988 she won reelection to a second term unopposed;[5] in 1990 she again was unopposed.[6]
In November 1991 Frankel resigned as state representative to run for Congress in 1992.[7] 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.[8] Frankel won the November general election with 55% of the vote.[9] In 1996, she won reelection to a fifth term with 68% of the vote.[10]
In 1998 Frankel was reelected to a sixth term with 64% of the vote.[11] In 2000 she was reelected to a seventh term with 63% of the vote.[12]
Tenure
During her first period as a state legislator, Frankel was State House Majority Whip.[13] 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.[1] She left office due to term limits in 2002 after serving 14 years in the State House.[1][3]
Committee assignments
- Fiscal Responsibility Council
- AIDS Task Force (committee chair)
- Select Committee of the Whole
- Select Committee on Child Abuse & Neglect (committee chair)[14]
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.[15] In the runoff, former U.S. District Court Judge Alcee Hastings defeated Frankel 57%–43%.[1][16]
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.[1]
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.[1] She was endorsed in the race by former West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham.[1] Frankel won with 56% of the vote to Daves’s 38%.[1][17] She was sworn into office on March 27, 2003. In 2007 she was reelected, defeating Al Zucaro by 58%–42%.[18]
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.[19]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2012
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,[20] 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.[21]
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.[22] She won the general election on November 6, 2012, defeating Hasner 54.7% to 45.3%.[23]
2014
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%.[24]
2016
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.[25] 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
With no primary or general opponents, Frankel was reelected.[26]
2020
With 86% of the vote, Frankel won the Democratic primary against Guido Weiss, a former adviser to Representative Tulsi Gabbard.[27] Frankel went on to win the November general election, defeating Republican nominee Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist.[28][29] Loomer’s candidacy was widely considered a long shot,[30][31][32] despite endorsements from high-profile Republicans including President Donald Trump, Representative Matt Gaetz, and former Trump adviser Roger Stone.[33][32]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[34]
Caucus memberships
Current
- Congressional Arts Caucus[35]
- United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[36]
- U.S.-Japan Caucus[37]
- Medicare for All Caucus
Former
- Congressional Progressive Caucus (c. 2016—2023)[38]
Political positions
Frankel voted with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[39]
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.”[40]
Frankel voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[41][42]
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.[43]
Frankel supports repealing the 1996 Dickey Amendment, which discourages the CDC from researching gun violence prevention.[44]
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.”[45]
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.”[46]
She has an “F” rating from the NRA, indicating that the organization does not believe that she protects gun rights.[47]
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.[48]
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.[49]
Government surveillance
Frankel has generally opposed measures to rein in government surveillance. Specifically, she voted against the Massie-Lofgren amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to defund Section 702 surveillance and prevent “backdoor” warrantless FBI surveillance under that authority of US citizens. She voted for House cybersecurity information sharing bills that facilitate surveillance, and for the extension of USA PATRIOT Act financial surveillance (HR 5606). She voted against the USA RIGHTS Act, which would have helped to restore Americans’ protections against government surveillance.
Impeachment of President Donald Trump
On December 18, 2019, Frankel voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump.[50] She did so again on January 13, 2021.[51]
Personal life
She is the chair of the Elect Democratic Women PAC.[52]
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j “Frankel beats Daves for West Palm Mayor”. Boca Raton News. Associated Press. 2003-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ “Lois Frankel”. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ a b “Lois J. Frankel, Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach”. City of West Palm Beach government. Archived from the original on 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 4, 1986”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – – November 8, 1988”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 6, 1990”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ Ashley Fantz (November 15, 2001). “Florida House minority leader Lois Frankel is waging an impossible campaign for governor”. Broward/Long Beach New Times.
- ^ Steve Nichol; Robin Fields; Jane Musgrave & Glenn Singer (September 9, 1994). “Frankel Scores Victory In Bitter House Race”. Sun Sentinel.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 8, 1994”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 5, 1996”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 3, 1998”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – November 7, 2000”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Florida House of Representatives profile”. myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Florida House of Representatives profile”. myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – September 1, 1992”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – October 1, 1992”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – March 11, 2003”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ “Our Campaigns – West Palm Beach, FL Mayor Race – Mar 13, 2007”. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ Streeter, Angel (2011-03-08). “Jeri Muoio elected mayor of West Palm Beach”. Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ Trygstad, Kyle (2003-03-21). “Lois Frankel Launches Bid Against Allen West”. Roll Call. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ “2016 Florida Election Watch – U.S. Representative”. Enight.dos.state.fl.us. 2016-08-30. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
- ^ “Frankel to give Digital Domain’s $20,000 in campaign…” Palmbeachpost.com. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
- ^ “Frankel beats out Hasner in race for U.S. Congress”. nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ “November 4, 2014 General Election Official Results”. Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Man, Anthony; Sweeney, Dan (December 3, 2015). “Ted Deutch to run in Broward-based district, leaving Lois Frankel to run in all-Palm Beach County district”. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Man, Anthony (4 May 2018). “Lois Frankel wins re-election to Congress after no one comes forward to challenge her”. sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ “August 18, 2020 Primary Election Official Results”. Florida Department of State – Division of Elections. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ “Florida Election Results: 21st Congressional District”. The New York Times. November 4, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ Watson, Kathryn (August 18, 2020). “Far-right candidate Laura Loomer wins GOP primary for district that covers Mar-a-Lago”. CBS News. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ Spencer, Terry (August 20, 2020). “Meet Trump’s long-shot candidate running for his Florida district”. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ Blake, Andrew (November 4, 2020). “Laura Loomer, GOP candidate and activist, loses long-shot House campaign in Florida race”. The Washington Times. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Sommer, Will (November 4, 2020). “Far-Right Activist Laura Loomer Loses House Bid”. The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ Elfrink, Tim (August 19, 2020). “‘Great going’: Trump praises right-wing activist Laura Loomer after her Florida GOP primary win”. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ “Lois Frankel”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ “Membership”. Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ “Our Members”. U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ “Members”. U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Grim, Ryan; Lacy, Akela (November 20, 2023). “Florida Democrat Who Voted to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib Quits Progressive Caucus”. The Intercept. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (2021-04-22). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ “Florida reaction to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel”. Tampa Bay Times. December 6, 2017.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ “Congresswoman Lois Frankel calls for action on gun control”. Congresswoman Lois Frankel. U. S. Federal Government. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ Shabad, Rebecca (2 December 2015). “Democrats renew push to reverse gun violence research ban”. CBS News. CBS Interactive, INC. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ “It is Time for Congress to Do its Job”. Government Publishing Office. U. S. Federal Government. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ Bennett, George (6 November 2017). “Texas massacre: Lois Frankel offers prediction on congressional response”. Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach, Florida. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ “Where South Floridians in Congress stand on gun legislation”. Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ “FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 663”. clerk.house.gov. U.S. Federal Government. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ “FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 169”. clerk.house.gov. U.S. Federal Government. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ “WHIP COUNT: Here’s which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump”. Business Insider.
- ^ “Here’s how the House voted on Trump’s second impeachment”. Politico. January 13, 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ “Democratic Women in Congress Launch Campaign to Recruit More Female Candidates”. Roll Call. 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
External links
- Congresswoman Lois Frankel official U.S. House website
- Lois Frankel for Congress
- Lois Frankel at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
