Maxwell Frost

Maxwell Alejandro Frost (born January 17, 1997)[1] is an American politician and activist serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 10th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was previously the national organizing director for March for Our Lives. Elected at age 25,[2] Frost is the first member of Generation Z to serve in the United States Congress.

For the American musician, see Max Frost.

Maxwell Frost
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 10th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byVal Demings
Personal details
Born
Maxwell Alejandro Frost

(1997-01-17) January 17, 1997
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationValencia College
WebsiteHouse website

Early life

Frost was born on January 17, 1997, to a woman of Lebanese and Argentine descent and a Haitian father.[3][4] His biological mother had several children.[5] He was adopted from birth; his adoptive mother is a special education teacher who migrated to the United States from Cuba in the Freedom Flights, and his adoptive father is a musician from Kansas.[6] He reconnected with his birth mother in June 2021.[6][7] Frost attended Osceola County School for the Arts in Kissimmee, Florida.[8] He attended Valencia College but dropped out before his senior year.[6][9]

Early career

Frost has been organizing since around 2012, when he was active with Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.[10][8] He also volunteered with the Newtown Action Alliance, an organization created in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[6] He has identified Occupy Wall Street, the Columbine High School massacre, the killing of Trayvon Martin, and the Orlando nightclub shooting as events that affected his thinking.[11] He later volunteered for Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Margaret Good.[7]

Frost survived an incident of gun violence at a Halloween event in Downtown Orlando in 2016.[6][12]

Frost was an organizer with the American Civil Liberties Union and worked to support Florida's 2018 Amendment 4 and to pressure Joe Biden to stop supporting the Hyde Amendment in 2019.[6] He was the national organizing director for March for Our Lives.[6][13] In November 2021, Frost was arrested at a voting rights rally in Lafayette Square led by William Barber II and Ben Jealous.[14]

U.S. House of Representatives

2022
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 10

In August 2021, Frost announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Florida's 10th congressional district.[15] During the primary campaign, he released a television ad in Spanglish, telling The Hill, "Latinos are in a place where their first language is Spanish but they speak English as well, and quite frankly that's me ... We speak Spanglish in the house, and I know that's the same for a lot of Latino families in the district."[16]

Frost beat state Senator Randolph Bracy and former U.S. Representatives Alan Grayson and Corrine Brown, among others, in the August 23, 2022, primary.[17] Due to the district's Democratic tilt, Frost was expected to win the general election in November 2022,[18] which he did, defeating Republican Calvin Wimbish by a 19% margin, which was smaller than the 32% margin by which Biden won the district in 2020.[19] Frost is the youngest member of Congress and the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress.[13][6][20][21][22] He was endorsed by numerous national and local political figures, including Jesse Jackson, former NAACP President Ben Jealous, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.[23]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[24]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Environment

Frost supports a Green New Deal.[6] He has identified environmental justice as a priority of his campaign.[4][7]

Guns
Frost, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris arrive to the Rose Garden for an announcement on the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in September 2023

Frost advocates for gun control.[4][7]

In January 2023, Frost and Representative Jared Moskowitz sent House Speaker Kevin McCarthy a letter asking him to convene a classified meeting to address mass shootings. The letter called for the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to conduct the meeting.[27]

Healthcare

Frost supports single-payer healthcare and investing in pandemic prevention.[4][6][7]

Criminal justice

Frost wants to "build toward a future without prison."[6] He supports the decriminalization of sex work and cannabis use.[7][28]

Iran

Frost believes that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) "certainly fell short in ways, but it blocked Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon, which was an important success."[29] In 2022 he supported restoration of the JACPOA but stressed "we must make it longer, stronger, and broader to cover not just the issue of nuclear weapons, but also the full range of destabilizing and threatening actions Iran engages in, like Iran’s ballistic missile program and the country’s support for terrorist proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas."[30]

Israel

Frost supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and has indicated his intent to travel to Israel to promote "US leadership in bringing peace to a region that so desperately needs and deserves it."[31][32] He has called himself pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian.[31][32][33] He supports unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel.[31][32][34] He has criticized the Palestinian Authority's martyr's fund that compensates the families of dead and wounded militants, likening it to a recruitment tactic of Hamas for the purpose of committing politically motivated violence against Israel.[31][34] Frost vehemently opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, accuses it of harboring leadership from terrorist organizations, and suggests that businesses that participate in BDS should in turn be divested.[31][32][34]

Frost had formerly participated in pro-Palestine activism, signing pledges with the Florida Palestine Network (FPN) and the Palestinian Feminist Pledge, calling for support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, ending military aid to Israel, and rejecting the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism.[35] In early August 2022, the Jewish news website Jewish Insider published a candidate questionnaire from Frost's congressional campaign that showed a shift in Frost's foreign policy positions on Israel and Palestine.[34] Jewish Insider characterized his responses as a reversal that distanced himself from his past while declaring an aggressive stance against the BDS movement, calling for unconditional military aid to Israel, and stating his opposition to anti-Zionism.[32] His campaign later released a position paper that formalized these positions.[31][34][36]

Crypto regulation

During his campaign, Frost announced a "crypto-advisory council" that would advise him during his campaign.[37] He received $8,700 in contributions from Sam Bankman-Fried and his brother and nearly $1 million in help from the Super-PAC Protect Our Future, almost all of it after announcing the council.[38]

Personal life

Frost speaks Spanish and English.[16] He is a jazz drummer and plays the timbales.[8][13] His nine-member high school band Seguro Que Sí (from Spanish 'of course') performed in the parade during Obama's second inauguration in 2013.[8][39]

Frost is a Baptist.[40]

In December 2022, Frost said he was denied a rental apartment in Washington, D.C., due to a "really bad" credit history. He said his credit rating was bad because he "ran up a lot of debt running for Congress for a year and a half".[41]

Frost was among a handful of Democrats who received about $1 million in support from former billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried's Protect Our Future PAC, as well as the maximum individual donation of $2,900.[42] In December 2022, the U.S. government indicted Bankman-Fried after alleging that he gave investor money to progressive political candidates, among other fraudulent crimes.[43] After the announcement of charges against Bankman-Fried, Frost donated the individual donation to the Zebra Coalition, an LGBTQ charity.[44]

In July 2023, Frost was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma[45]

Electoral history
Electoral history of Maxwell Frost
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total  % P. Total  % P.
2022 U.S. House Democratic 19,288 34.77% 1st 117,955 59.00% 1st Won Hold [46]
Source: Secretary of State of Florida | Election Results

See also

References
  1. Parrow, Kyra (May 5, 2022). "UCF students fuel power into midterm campaign for Generation Z running candidate". NSM Today. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. Li, David K. (November 8, 2022). "Gen Z has arrived in Congress: Maxwell Frost, 25, wins Florida House seat". NBC News.
  3. Bernal, Rafael (August 24, 2022). "Who is Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the 25-year-old Democratic House nominee?". The Hill. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  4. McMenamin, Lexi (November 8, 2021). "Candidates to Watch in the 2022 Midterms". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  5. Sotomayor, Marianna (September 3, 2022). "Maxwell Frost is figuring out how to be Gen Z's likely first congressman". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. Metzger, Bryan (May 28, 2022). "Meet the 25-year-old gun violence prevention advocate who could become the first Gen Z member of Congress". Business Insider. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  7. Lipson, Molly (March 31, 2022). "For This 25-Year-Old Running For Congress, Friends Are The Key To His Campaign". Elite Daily. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  8. Allen, Greg (January 20, 2013). "A High School Salsa Band In The Inaugural Parade? 'Of Course!'". NPR. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  9. "Maxwell Alejandro Frost Wants to Be a New Type of Congressman". Teen Vogue. January 5, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. "24-year-old running for Congress: Need to honor those "killed due to senseless gun violence"". MSNBC. September 24, 2021. 0:00. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  11. Moore, Elena (July 6, 2022). "The first Gen Z candidates are running for Congress — and running against compromise". WBUR. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  12. Bernal, Rafael (May 9, 2022). "Hispanic Caucus endorses two front-runners for House seats". The Hill. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  13. McQuilkin, Hilary; Chakrabarti, Meghna (December 6, 2021). "Are U.S. elected officials getting too old?". WBUR-FM. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  14. Powers, Scott (November 19, 2021). "Congressional candidate Maxwell Frost arrested at Washington protest". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. Lemongello, Steven (August 11, 2021). "Gun reform activist Maxwell Frost announces run for Congress to succeed Val Demings". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  16. Bernal, Rafael (August 19, 2022). "Florida Democrat releases Spanglish ad". The Hill. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  17. Swisher, Skyler (August 23, 2022). "Maxwell Frost, 25-year-old activist, likely headed to Congress after primary win". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  18. Elena, Moore (August 23, 2022). "Maxwell Frost, one of the first Gen Z candidates for Congress, has won his primary". NPR. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  19. Clifford, Tyler (November 9, 2022). "'Life is wild!': First Generation Z member elected to U.S. Congress". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  20. Galbraith, Alex (July 3, 2022). "Democratic congressional candidate Maxwell Frost confronts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during Orlando show". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  21. Rozsa, Lori; Weigel, David (August 24, 2022). "Who is Maxwell Frost, the Gen Z Democratic nominee in Florida?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  22. Anderson, Curt (November 8, 2022). "Florida Democrat Maxwell Alejandro Frost becomes first Gen Z candidate to win House seat". PBS NewsHour. PBS. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  23. "Endorsements". Maxwell Frost for Congress. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  24. "Maxwell Frost". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  25. "Members". April 21, 2023.
  26. "Progressive Caucus". Progressive Caucus. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  27. Bakich, Grayson (January 27, 2023). "Frost and Moskowitz Call for Classified Briefing on Mass Shootings". The Floridian. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  28. Alund, Natalie Neysa (August 24, 2022). "At 25, Maxwell Frost could be first Gen Z member elected to Congress". USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  31. "A Two-State Solution: The Path Towards Peace" (PDF). Maxwell Frost for Congress. August 10, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Jewish Insider.
  32. "Maxwell Frost Jewish Insider Questionnaire" (PDF). Jewish Insider. August 10, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  33. Samuels, Ben (August 24, 2022). "Pro-Israel Candidates Win Key Primaries in New York, Florida". Haaretz. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  34. Kassel, Matthew (August 11, 2022). "Gen Z progressive says he's 'pro-Israel' and 'pro-Palestinian'". Jewish Insider. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  35. "How Florida progressive Maxwell Frost courted Palestinians, then abandoned them". Middle East Eye. August 29, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  36. Plitnick, Mitchell (August 25, 2022). "Maxwell Frost abandoned Palestine on his way to Democratic primary victory". Mondoweiss. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  37. Powers, Scott (April 27, 2022). "CD 10 Democratic candidate Maxwell Frost sets up crypto advisory council". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  38. Freedlander, David (December 22, 2022). "The Fall of the Progressive Boy King". Intelligencer. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  39. Rodriguez, Sabrina (August 23, 2022). "'The Future We Deserve': This Florida Gen Z Candidate Thinks He Can Chart a New Path For the Youth". Politico. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  40. Diamont, Jeff (January 3, 2023). "Faith on The Hill". Pew Research Center. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  41. Gans, Jared (December 8, 2022). "First Gen Z congressman-elect says he was denied DC apartment, noting 'really bad' credit". The Hill. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  42. Powers, Scott (August 5, 2022). "PAC pours $692K into TV to support Maxwell Frost in CD 10". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  43. Yaffe-Bellany, David; Goldstein, Matthew; Flitter, Emily (December 13, 2022). "Prosecutors Say FTX Was Engaged in a 'Massive, Yearslong Fraud'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  44. "It seems clear that Sam Bankman Fried cheated and conned over a million people out of their money. Many of these being working class families that lost their life savings. They deserve justice and Sam Bankman Fried should be held accountable". Twitter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  45. "Newly Inducted Honorary Members". Instagram. @pbs1914. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  46. Primary election:
    General election:

43. Diamant, Jeff (January 3rd, 2023) “Faith on The Hill” Pew Research Center. Retrieved September 7th, 2023.

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