Well-known Florida state Democratic Sen. Geraldine Thompson passed away on Thursday after complications from knee replacement surgery.
“Her tireless work in education, healthcare, and civil rights, including her leadership to establish the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, reflected her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations,” Thompson’s family said in a statement.
The 76-year-old Democrat from Orlando served in the Florida Legislature from 2006 to 2022. She worked as vice chair of the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education and served on several other committees.
In national news, Democratic senators Tina Smith and Gary Peters announced they would not seek re-election, creating challenges for their parties in upcoming elections.
