Al Lawson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Corrine Brown |
| Succeeded by | John Rutherford |
| Minority Leader of the Florida Senate | |
| In office 2008–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Geller |
| Succeeded by | Nan Rich |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 7, 2000 – November 2, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Bill Montford |
| Constituency | 3rd district (2000–02) 6th district (2002–10) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 7, 1982 – November 7, 2000 | |
| 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) |
| Website | House website |
Alfred James Lawson Jr. (born September 23, 1948)[1] is an American businessman and politician who was the U.S. representative for Florida's 5th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. The district, which was eliminated following redistricting during the 2022 Florida legislative session, stretched across most of the border with Georgia, including most of the majority-black areas between Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Lawson challenged fellow Congressman Neal Dunn in the newly redrawn 2nd congressional district, which pitted them against each other in Lawson's home city. Lawson won the Democratic primary unopposed, and lost to Dunn in the general election.
Lawson served in the Florida legislature for 28 years, from 1982 to 2000 in the Florida House of Representatives and from 2000 to 2010 in the Florida Senate (representing the 6th district), where he was elected to serve as the Democratic leader and rose to the rank of "Dean of the Senate" before his election to Congress. After two failed campaigns for Congress, Lawson defeated incumbent Corrine Brown in the 2016 Democratic primary and won the general election.
- ^ Florida, State Library and Archives of. "U.S. Congressional candidate Al Lawson, at right, speaking with Bob Fulford at a picnic of the Democratic Club of North Florida in Tallahassee, Florida". Florida Memory.