Frederica Wilson
Frederica Smith Wilson (born Frederica Patricia Smith, November 5, 1942) is an American politician who has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2011, representing Florida's 24th congressional district. Located in South Florida, Wilson's congressional district, numbered 17th during her first term, covers a large swath of eastern Miami-Dade County and a sliver of southern Broward County. The district contains most of Miami's majority-black precincts, as well as parts of Opa-locka, North Miami, Hollywood, and Miramar. Wilson gained national attention in 2012 for her comments on the death of Trayvon Martin.
Frederica Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Kendrick Meek |
| Constituency | 17th district (2011–2013) 24th district (2013–present) |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 33rd district | |
| In office November 5, 2002 – December 31, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Braynon |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 104th district | |
| In office November 3, 1998 – November 5, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Kendrick Meek |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frederica Patricia Smith November 5, 1942 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Paul Wilson
(m. 1963; died 1988) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Florida A&M University Fisk University (BS) University of Miami (MS) |
| Website | House website |
Wilson is a member of the Democratic Party. The seat to which she was elected became available when the incumbent, Kendrick Meek, ran for a seat in the Senate in 2010.
Wilson is known for her large and colorful hats, of which she owns several hundred. She has gone through efforts to get Congress to lift its ban on head coverings during House sessions, which dates to 1837.