The Democratic primary in Florida's 10th congressional district has officially been called with progressive candidate Maxwell Frost winning the nomination.
Frost beat the runner-up, State Senator Randolph Bracy, by ten percentage points with a gap of 34.7% to 24.7%. If Frost wins the general election in November, he will become the first Generation-Z member of Congress at just 25 years old.
Frost tweeted Wednesday in response to his victory:
"WE WON!!! Thank you so much to all of our supporters, endorsers, volunteers, & staff. We won because of our message: Love. That no matter who you are, you deserve healthcare, a livable wage, and to live free from gun violence. We made history tonight. Thank you so much, Orlando."
\u201cWE WON!!! Thank you so much to all of our supporters, endorsers, volunteers, & staff. We won because of our message: Love. That no matter who you are, you deserve healthcare, a livable wage, and to live free from gun violence. We made history tonight. Thank you so much, Orlando.\u201d— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@Maxwell Alejandro Frost) 1661315214
Frost's seat covers the Orlando area, and was previously held by Rep. Val Demings, who chose not to run again and instead vie for Senate in Florida. Demings also won her primary, as NBC News called Tuesday.
Before running for office, Frost worked as an organizer for March for Our Lives, a gun-violence prevention program formed after the Parkland school shooting in 2018 that took place in Florida. Frost has also worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and has been endorsed by prominent Democrats such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Frost proudly represents his Cuban heritage, never shying away from his and his family's experiences with drug abuse, police violence, and lack of healthcare. He is an adamant supporter of access to abortion and seeks to curtail gun violence from his position.
Early on his campaign trail in June, Frost confronted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during an interview over gun violence within the state. Security ejected Frost, with DeSantis taunting,
"Nobody wants to hear from you."
Frost then turned the Governor's words into a rallying cry for his supporters.
\u201cGun violence is an everyday occurrence, the Supreme Court has stripped away abortion rights, & affordable housing is in a crisis. We need bold leaders who will fight for transformational change. A leader who will fight for Orlando.\u201d— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@Maxwell Alejandro Frost) 1659025463
In a recent interview to discuss his victory, Frost addressed the incident with DeSantis, referring to it as "good trouble," referencing the words of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
“That video is really a microcosm of what’s going on in Florida," Frost said. "The governor shooing people off who might have a different opinion, being rude, being a bully. And we know the majority of people in this state are not in line with that type of governance and that type of thinking, and I truly believe that’s part of what led us to victory here.”
The non-partisan organization, Cook Political Report, projects Frost as the winner in the November general, as Florida's 10th district House falls solidly Democratic. This would make Frost the first Gen-Z member of Congress, a fact he proudly celebrates in another tweet.
"My name is Maxwell Alejandro Frost and I will be the first Generation-Z member of Congress. Don’t count out young people."
\u201cMy name is Maxwell Alejandro Frost and I will be the first Generation-Z member of Congress. \n\nDon\u2019t count out young people.\u201d— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@Maxwell Alejandro Frost) 1661350413
\u201cMy name is Maxwell Alejandro Frost and I will be the first Generation-Z member of Congress. \n\nDon\u2019t count out young people.\u201d— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@Maxwell Alejandro Frost) 1661350413