Janelle Irwin Taylor
State Sen. Geraldine Thompson said Monday she’s running for Congress. Flanked by family, friends and supporters, Thompson outlined her “Our Families First” agenda as she launched her Democratic bid for Florida’s 10th Congressional District
The seat is held by Daniel Webster, who’s vying to be GOP Speaker of the House.
Thompson’s campaign agenda includes focus on increasing the minimum wage, supporting paid sick leave, and passing comprehensive immigration reform.
“I am proud to be running for Congress because we need progressive leadership in Washington, D.C., that is focused on making lives better,” Thompson said. “I’ve been a proud community advocate and legislator for decades, and the results of my service are clear. For me, it’s not about talking points: It’s about getting results. I have created programs in my community, established a museum to honor our history and fought for sensible solutions that aim to make the lives of our residents a bit better.”
With nearly a decade under her belt as a state legislator, Thompson said she hopes to take that leadership to Congress where she can strive to unblock a historically gridlocked U.S. House of Representatives.
“As your next congresswoman, I will never back down from a fight and I will see every journey to the end because I value the trust our residents bestow in me to be their voice in Congress,” Thompson said. “For more than 40 years, I have been a fierce community advocate who has worked hard to give opportunity a real meaning for our families. It takes determination to get results, and as your congresswoman, I am determined to go to Congress to get results for our community.”
Thompson has spent most of her life as a staunch advocate for women’s rights, children, minorities and persons with disabilities. She was in the Florida House of Representatives six years before being elected to the state Senate in 2012.
Thompson graduated from the University of Miami in 1970 and with a Master of Science from Florida State University in 1973. She worked for the Orange County Public Schools system as a teacher and then for 24 years as an administrator at Valencia Community College.
Thompson has three children and is the grandmother of four. The Orlando lawmaker is also a cancer survivor.
