Rep. Fredericka Wilson (FL-24) one of the House of Representatives members who has been MIA without explanation for the past month-plus, has resurfaced to tell the world that she will not seek another term in Congress.
Well... bye.
“I think it’s time"-8th term #FL24 Congresswoman Frederica Wilson announces she will not seek re-election. The 83-year-old Democrat, who represents portions of North Miami-Dade and southern Broward counties, has not voted in the House since April 17 recovering from left eye… https://t.co/F2geE7HJSH
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) May 29, 2026
“I think it’s time"-8th term #FL24 Congresswoman Frederica Wilson announces she will not seek re-election. The 83-year-old Democrat, who represents portions of North Miami-Dade and southern Broward counties, has not voted in the House since April 17 recovering from left eye surgery.
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., announced Friday she will not seek reelection, ending a long House career just days after she dismissed reports of her looming retirement as a "crazy rumor."
Wilson, 83, known for her bedazzled cowboy hats and brightly colored suits, represents Florida’s 24th Congressional District, a heavily Democratic South Florida seat that includes parts of northern Miami–Dade County and southeastern Broward County. In Congress since 2011, Wilson has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump across both of his administrations.
As RedState's Rusty Weiss wrote on May 14th:
She's reportedly missed a whopping 43 straight House votes since April 17th. And her office has provided zero explanation.
Whether the reason is because they are getting primaried (Goodbye, Al Green!) or retiring, it is interesting how these vociferous critics of President Donald Trump are all falling to the wayside, which should make House Speaker Mike Johnson's work a bit easier. But just last week, Wilson claimed she was still in the fight. It's amazing what a redistricting battle will do to clarify the mind.
In an exclusive interview with The Miami Herald (linked above), Wilson admitted she held off from announcing her resignation because she wanted to make sure District 24, one of the majority-minority districts in the state, was not on the chopping block.
“I think it’s time, and I think I really held on as long as I did because of the 5000 Role Models program, and my concern about the future of it,” the Democratic lawmaker said about the mentorship program she created for Black and brown boys more than 30 years ago.
Wilson, who sat down with the Herald at the 5000 Role Models of Excellence office at Andover Middle School in Miami Gardens, just days earlier called a report about her impending retirement a “crazy rumor.” She said she made her decision a while ago, but needed to be “politically strategic” about how she went about it considering Florida’s recent redrawing of congressional maps, which the governor signed into law on May 4.
“I figured if I announced that I was retiring, what would the Legislature and the governor do? What would they say? Would District 24 be an easy target because Frederica is no longer there? I’m a strong candidate,” she said. “With me not here, would that weaken the survival of District 24?”
Read More: Where in the World Is Frederica Wilson? 83-Year-Old Dem Is MIA
FL Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has signed off on the new maps, and District 24 will mostly maintain its voter constitution, and may even see an increase in constituents of color. After word got out that Wilson was stepping down, many Democrat candidates lined up to compete for the seat, including FL state Sen. Shevrin Jones and Miami Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert. Rudy Moise, a Miami physician who ran against Wilson twice, had already filed to challenge her again in 2026. Dr. Moise criticized Wilson for her absences and missed votes.
“Every vote is important and you cannot fight for your constituents if you don’t vote. And now, in District 20 since the congresswoman resigned they don’t have a voice over there either,” he said, referencing Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation last month.
Wilson has not chosen to endorse any of these candidates just yet, stating that she plans to complete the rest of her term—which ends January 1, 2027.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member