Lois Frankel (D-Fla., 22nd Congressional District)

Lois Frankel

Former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel (D) is running against tea party incumbent Rep. Allen West (R) in the 2012 election for Florida's 22nd Congressional District. A longtime NOW member, Frankel has made full equality for women and girls a priority in every position she's held, and the NOW/ PAC could not be more excited about endorsing her in this race.

Frankel's political career began in the Florida House of Representatives in 1986, where she spent 14 years and was re-elected six times. She was the first women to serve as Florida's House Democratic Leader. In 2003 Frankel was elected mayor of Palm Beach and has just retired due to term limits.

During her time in the Florida legislature, Frankel remained outspoken on many of NOW's key issues. She has been a lifelong supporter of reproductive rights and LGBT rights. Frankel is a committed supporter of Roe v. Wade and believes that access to effective birth control and emergency contraception should be guaranteed for all women. In 1999, Frankel worked against the introduction of "Choose Life" license plates in her state. In addition, she has been a champion for HIV/AIDS patient rights and was a co-author of Florida's first antidiscrimination HIV/AIDS law.

As mayor, Frankel continued as a champion for equality. In 2004, she appointed Delsa R. Bush the chief of police of the West Palm Beach Police Department. Bush was the department's first African American female police officer in 1983. Frankel took a strong stand against Amendment 2, the so-called "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment" in 2008. The amendment defined marriage as a union solely between a man and a woman.

NOW/PAC looks forward to helping send Lois Frankel to Capitol Hill in 2012.

For more information, please visit Frankel's campaign website.

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