Rep. Frederica Wilson, the veteran Florida Democrat known for her signature bedazzled cowboy hats and colorful suits, announced Friday that she will not seek reelection, bringing an end to a congressional career that spanned more than a decade.
The announcement comes just days after Wilson publicly dismissed reports that she was preparing to retire, calling them a “crazy crazy rumor” and insisting she still planned to run for another term.
Wilson, 83, has represented Florida’s 24th Congressional District since 2011. The heavily Democratic district includes portions of northern Miami-Dade County and southeastern Broward County. Throughout her time in Congress, she emerged as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump during both of his administrations and became one of the more recognizable figures in the House Democratic caucus.
Explaining her decision to step aside, Wilson pointed to concerns about the future of the 5000 Role Models program, a mentorship initiative for minority boys that she founded more than three decades ago.
“I think it’s time,” Wilson told the Miami Herald. “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.”
According to the Herald, Wilson said she had made the decision some time ago but approached the public announcement carefully for political reasons. She expressed concern about what might happen to her district if word of her retirement became public too soon.
“I figured if I announced that I was retiring, what would the Legislature and the governor do?” Wilson said. “Would District 24 be an easy target because Frederica is no longer there?”
The congresswoman added that she worried her departure could affect the district’s long-term political stability.
Questions about Wilson’s future had been circulating for months, particularly following an extended absence from Capitol Hill. That absence was attributed to her recovery from surgery on her left eye, though it also fueled broader speculation regarding her health and political future.
Earlier this week, Axios reported that Wilson had informed allies she was preparing to retire. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report suggested a retirement announcement was imminent. Wilson forcefully denied the report at the time.
“I’m almost distraught. It’s not true. I am still planning on running,” she reportedly told the outlet.
Wilson’s tenure in Congress included several high-profile confrontations with Trump. One of the most notable occurred in 2017 following the death of Army Sgt. La David Johnson, a Miami-area soldier who was killed during an ambush in Niger.
Wilson said she was present in the vehicle with Johnson’s widow, Myeshia Johnson, when Trump called to offer condolences. According to Wilson, Trump remarked that the soldier “knew what he signed up for” when he enlisted. Trump and members of his administration denied that characterization of the conversation.
The dispute intensified when then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly publicly defended Trump and accused Wilson of a history of politicizing solemn events. Wilson and her supporters responded by demanding an apology from Kelly, arguing that he had mischaracterized her actions regarding a dedication ceremony for a new FBI field office in Miami.
With Wilson’s retirement now official, attention is shifting toward who may seek to succeed her. According to a report earlier this month, Shevrin Jones and Oliver Gilbert are among those reportedly considering campaigns for the seat.
Wilson’s departure marks the end of a lengthy chapter in South Florida politics and closes a congressional career that often placed her at the center of some of Washington’s most visible political battles.
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