Maxwell Frost

Maxwell Frost. He is an American politician and community organizer serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 10th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected in 2022 and became the first member of Generation Z to be elected to Congress. His career prior to elected office was defined by activism on issues including gun violence, healthcare reform, and climate change.

Early life and education

He was born in Orlando, Florida and is of Afro-Cuban descent. His biological mother experienced homelessness and struggled with substance abuse, leading to his adoption as an infant. He attended performing arts programs at Dr. Phillips High School and later studied at Valencia College. His political consciousness was shaped early by the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting in his hometown, events which catalyzed his involvement in activism.

Political activism

Before running for office, he worked as the national organizing director for the grassroots advocacy group March for Our Lives, which was formed after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. In this role, he helped organize nationwide protests and lobbied for federal gun control legislation. He also worked as an organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), focusing on issues of voting rights and criminal justice reform. His activism extended to Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign, where he served as a field organizer in Iowa.

U.S. House of Representatives

He announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives following the decision by incumbent Val Demings to run for the United States Senate. He won the Democratic primary in August 2022 and defeated Republican candidate Calvin Wimbish in the November general election for Florida's 10th congressional district. Upon his swearing-in on January 3, 2023, he became the youngest current member of Congress. In the 118th United States Congress, he was assigned to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Political positions

He advocates for progressive policies including the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and the abolition of the filibuster. A proponent of stricter gun control measures, he supports universal background checks and a federal ban on assault weapons. He has been a vocal critic of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and has called for conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel. On economic issues, he supports a federal minimum wage increase to $15 per hour and the cancellation of student debt.

Electoral history

In the 2022 election for Florida's 10th congressional district, he won the Democratic primary with approximately 35% of the vote in a crowded field. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Calvin Wimbish, receiving 59% of the vote to Wimbish's 41%. The district, which includes much of Orlando and parts of Orange County, Florida, is considered a Democratic stronghold, having been previously represented by Val Demings and, before her, Alan Grayson.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida Category:1997 births Category:Living people