House Democrat Frederica Wilson (D-FL) announced on Friday that she will not seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.
“This has been a journey, but it’s time. It’s time,” Wilson said. “I know all of you are wondering, ‘What is the congresswoman going to do?’ Well, the congresswoman is going to not seek another term.”
Wilson became the 60th House member this cycle to announce retirement or higher office pursuits. At 83, she had been part of a group of senior lawmakers in their 80s and 90s who previously stated they would run for re-election in 2026—defying voter demands for generational change.
Wilson recently underwent eye surgery and missed a month of voting during recovery. Her Miami congressional district, which lost coastal areas in the GOP’s redistricting efforts this month, remained deep blue, meaning she would have almost certainly secured a ninth term. Wilson revealed she waited until after new maps were established to announce her retirement so as not to target her district.
She previously dismissed reports of her decision as a “crazy rumor,” later calling it a “crazy crazy rumor” that left her feeling “almost distraught.” Wilson returned to Capitol Hill on May 21 after missing more than 40 votes during a break, an issue Republican critics highlighted earlier in the month.
In a notable clash with former President Trump in 2017, Wilson recounted being with La David Johnson’s widow after Army Sgt. La David Johnson was killed in an ambush in Niger. She stated Trump called to offer condolences at that time, claiming he said the soldier “knew what he signed up for,” a characterization Trump and his aides denied. The feud intensified when then-White House chief of staff John Kelly defended Trump during a White House briefing and accused Wilson of politicizing solemn moments for political gain.
