Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) announced on Friday she will not seek re-election in the 2026 midterms, stating it is “time” to step down after a career spanning decades in Congress.
The decision follows Wilson’s earlier confirmation in an interview with the Miami Herald that same day. At 83, Wilson was part of a group of senior lawmakers who had initially signaled plans to run for another term in 2026—a move that defied calls for generational change among congressional leaders. However, she recently underwent eye surgery and missed approximately one month of voting during spring sessions.
Wilson strategically delayed her retirement announcement until after the recent GOP redistricting process finalized, ensuring her Miami district remained deep blue despite losing coastal areas in the new maps. She denied reports of her retirement as “a crazy rumor,” claiming it nearly distressed her. According to Axios Congress reporter Andrew Solender, Wilson had privately shared the news with local allies before dismissing the claims.
Wilson returned to Capitol Hill to vote on May 21 after a hiatus that included missing over 40 votes, an absence Republican critics highlighted earlier this month. Her decision follows years of high-profile clashes with former President Trump, including a 2017 incident involving Army Sgt. La David Johnson and his widow, Myeshia Johnson. Wilson alleged Trump stated on a call that Johnson “knew what he signed up for,” a claim the president and his aides denied. The feud intensified when then-White House chief of staff John Kelly publicly criticized Wilson’s history of politicizing solemn moments during White House briefings.
Wilson is now the 60th House member this cycle to announce retirement or a bid for higher office.