U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson has formally endorsed Oliver Gilbert as her preferred successor in Florida’s 24th Congressional District, offering him a symbolic torch as she announced her support.
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Wilson, who recently revealed she will not seek re‑election, urged voters to rally behind Gilbert as the Democratic primary approaches.
Gilbert, the former Miami Gardens mayor and current Miami‑Dade County Commissioner, framed his campaign around action rather than rhetoric.
“You give me a problem, I try to fix it,” he said during the endorsement event. “I don’t believe in real words… I believe in real work.”
Wilson was even more direct.
“If I am endorsing you, everybody in District 24 should be endorsing you,” she told supporters.
What’s also making news is who Wilson is not backing: State Sen. Shevrin Jones, one of the most prominent candidates in the crowded field.
Jones responded by emphasizing that the race belongs to voters, not political power brokers.
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“This race will not be decided by one person or by self‑proclaimed power brokers,” he said. “For me, it always has been and will always be about the people.”
Florida’s 24th District stretches from Miami through Miami Gardens and north into Hollywood. It is one of South Florida’s most heavily African American and minority districts, and 10 candidates have qualified for the Democratic primary.
The field includes several familiar names in local politics:
- Dr. Rudy Moise, a physician and businessman
- Former Miami‑Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime
- Kendrick Meek Jr., grandson of the late Congresswoman Carrie Meek, whose family remains deeply respected in Miami political circles
Whoever wins the primary will likely secure the seat in November, given the district’s strong Democratic lean.
NBC6 Political Analyst Alex Penelas noted that the next member of Congress will face weighty decisions.
“They are voting on war resolutions, they are voting on trillion‑dollar budgets, whether to send more money to Ukraine or Israel,” he said. “These are significant issues.”
With the Democratic primary set for Aug. 18, campaigning is expected to intensify across the district in the coming weeks.
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