Al Lawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Lawson
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Corrine Brown |
| Succeeded by | Neal Dunn (redistricting) |
| Minority Leader of the Florida Senate | |
| In office 2008–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Steven Geller |
| Succeeded by | Nan Rich |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 7, 2000 – November 2, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Bill Montford |
| Constituency | 3rd district (2000–02) 6th district (2002–10) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives |
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| In office November 7, 1982 – November 7, 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Leonard J. Hall |
| Succeeded by | Curtis B. Richardson |
| Constituency | 9th district (1982–92) 8th district (1992–2000) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alfred James Lawson Jr.
September 23, 1948 Midway, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Delores Brooks
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Florida A&M University (BA) Florida State University (MPA) |
Alfred James Lawson Jr. (born September 23, 1948), known as Al Lawson, is an American businessman and politician. He served as a U.S. representative for Florida's 5th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. This district covered parts of Florida along the border with Georgia, including areas between Tallahassee and Jacksonville. After a change in district maps, Lawson ran in a different district but was not re-elected.
Before serving in the U.S. Congress, Lawson was a member of the Florida state legislature for 28 years. He worked in the Florida House of Representatives from 1982 to 2000. Then, he served in the Florida Senate from 2000 to 2010. In the Senate, he became the leader for the Democratic party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Al Lawson was born in Midway, Florida. He went to Havana Northside High School, where he was a talented athlete in basketball and track. He continued his basketball career at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). There, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science.
After college, Lawson briefly played professional basketball for the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks. He then returned to Tallahassee. He became an assistant basketball coach at Florida State University. He also earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Florida State University. Lawson is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Political Career
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Al Lawson ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives several times.
First Campaigns
In 2010, Lawson ran for the Democratic nomination in Florida's 2nd district. He lost by a small number of votes. In 2012, he ran for the same seat again. He won the Democratic nomination but lost the general election.
Winning in 2016
In 2016, the boundaries of Florida's congressional districts changed. The new 5th district included Lawson's hometown of Tallahassee. He decided to run for this seat. He won the Democratic primary election. In the general election on November 8, he won with 64% of the votes.
What Al Lawson Did in Congress
As a U.S. Representative, Al Lawson worked on several important committees. These committees help make decisions about different areas of life in the United States.
Committee Roles
- Committee on Agriculture: This committee deals with farming, food, and rural development.
- Subcommittee on Nutrition: Focuses on food assistance programs.
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management: Deals with major farm products and managing risks for farmers.
- United States House Committee on Financial Services: This committee oversees banks, housing, and the economy.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Works on making financial services fair for everyone.
- Housing, Community Development and Insurance: Focuses on housing and community growth.
- Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions: Protects consumers and oversees financial businesses.
Group Memberships
Lawson was also part of special groups in Congress:
- Congressional Black Caucus: A group of African-American members of Congress.
- New Democrat Coalition: A group of moderate Democrats.
Views on Key Issues
Gun Safety
After a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Lawson spoke about the need for stricter gun laws. He believed that groups supporting gun rights had too much influence. Lawson supports rules that would limit certain types of weapons. He voted against laws that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in more places, including near schools.
International Relations
Lawson voted to allow the U.S. to continue selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. This was related to the conflict in Yemen. He explained that this vote was part of a larger bill that also helped farmers in his district.
See also
In Spanish: Al Lawson para niños
