Feminist Majority Endorsements

Lois Frankel (D) is running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 22nd congressional district. She is challenging freshman incumbent Congressman Allen West who is a major opponent of women’s rights. The Cook Political Report rates this race a toss-up and a Democratic district.

erved in the Florida State House from 1986 to 2000, was the first woman minority leader in the House. Ran in the primary for U.S. Congress in 1992 Capitol Center for the Arts, Chair Two-term Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida, first elected in 2003

Frankel has been a strong feminist activist dating back to her law school days, when she challenged the male bastion of Georgetown Law School to make accommodations for its newly admitted women students. Throughout her history in public office she has been a long-time leader on the whole range of women's rights issues. In the Florida State Legislature she was key in preserving reproductive rights, day care regulations, AIDS legislation, and measures against violence against women.

Good. This is a historically Democratic district and incumbent West is a major target of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Frankel is challenging Allen West, an incumbent Republican freshman who is strongly identified with the Tea Party. West recently spoke on the House floor in favor of the Republican backed "Cut, Cap, and Balance" legislation. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents the neighboring district, questioned how a member representing South Florida could support a plan that would raise costs for Medicare beneficiaries. She said that the legislation "slashes Medicaid and critical investments essential to winning the future in favor of protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires, and companies who ship American jobs overseas." This comment provoked a tirade from Allen via email which referred to "Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz". He called her "vile, unprofessional, and despicable", "a coward," "not a Lady," and demanded that she "shut the heck up." He sent this email to all the House leadership.

Emily's List, Women's Campaign Forum, NOW PAC, National Women's Political Caucus