Lois Frankel
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). A member of the Democratic Party, Frankel formerly was a seven-term member of the Florida House of Representatives and a two-term mayor of West Palm Beach.
Lois Frankel
22nd district (2013–2017)
21st district (2017–2023)
22nd district (2023–present)
Redistricted
83rd district
Mimi McAndrews
85th district
Frankel was a member of the Florida House for fourteen years, serving as Minority Whip and later Minority Leader of the Florida State House.[1] She was elected mayor of West Palm Beach in 2003,[1] serving two terms in office until leaving office in 2011 due to term limits. Frankel additionally ran unsuccessful campaigns to run for the US House of Representatives in 1992 and for Governor of Florida in 2002.
Early life and education[edit]
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)[edit]
Elections[edit]
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[edit]
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]
Mayor of West Palm Beach (2003–2011)[edit]
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]