Kendrick Meek: A Political Trajectory Through Florida
An analytical exploration of his legislative journey, policy stances, and electoral campaigns, from the Florida Legislature to his U.S. Senate bid.
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Early Life and Foundation
Origins and Education
Kendrick Brett Meek was born on September 6, 1966, in Miami, Florida. He is the son of Harold H. Meek and the late Congresswoman Carrie Meek. His early education included Miami Springs High School, where he excelled in football. He pursued higher education at Florida A&M University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1989. During his time at FAMU, Meek was a notable football player and founded the university's Young Democrats chapter, later serving as its president. He was also initiated into the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Early Career in Public Service
Following his academic pursuits, Meek joined the Florida Highway Patrol as a trooper, serving in Miami. During his four-year tenure, he achieved the rank of captain, reportedly becoming the first African American to do so within the patrol. He later served on the security detail for Florida Lieutenant Governor Buddy MacKay, which provided foundational experience before he transitioned into his political career.
Legislative Foundations
Florida House of Representatives
Meek's entry into elected office began with his service in the Florida House of Representatives from 1995 to 1998. In this role, he focused on critical economic and social justice issues. A significant legislative achievement during this period was his leadership in building a bipartisan coalition to secure compensation for Freddie Lee Pitts and Wilbert Lee, two individuals who had been falsely convicted of murder. This effort successfully navigated opposition from conservative factions, culminating in the passage of the bill with Republican support.
Florida State Senate
From 1998 to 2002, Kendrick Meek represented Florida in the State Senate. During his term, he was a key figure in the "One Florida" initiative protests. In January 2000, Meek, alongside Representative Tony Hill, staged a 25-hour sit-in in Governor Jeb Bush's office to protest the "One Florida" plan, which aimed to end race- and gender-based preferences in state government contracting and employment. The protest concluded after Governor Bush agreed to delay the plan's implementation.
Class Size Amendment Initiative
In 2002, Meek spearheaded a significant initiative to reduce class sizes in Florida's public schools. He launched a petition drive that gathered over 500,000 signatures, placing Amendment 9 on the ballot. This amendment proposed strict limits on class sizes across all grade levels, mandating gradual implementation towards full compliance by the 2010 school year. Despite opposition from Governor Bush and Republican legislators concerned about costs, the amendment was approved by Florida voters with 52.4% of the vote.
Service in Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
Kendrick Meek was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2002, succeeding his mother, Carrie Meek, in Florida's 17th congressional district. He served four terms, from 2003 to 2011. Notably, Meek faced no Republican or third-party opposition on the general election ballot in any of his four elections, and in 2008, he was automatically elected due to a lack of opposition.
Committee and Leadership Roles
During his tenure in the House, Meek was a member of the influential Committee on Ways and Means, serving on its Subcommittees on Income Security and Family Support, and Select Revenue Measures. He was also involved with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Within his party, Meek held leadership positions, including membership in the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He was also part of the New Democrat Coalition and the "30 Something Working Group."
Policy Positions
Economic Principles
Meek advocated for an increase in the federal minimum wage. He demonstrated support for fiscal stabilization measures by voting in favor of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
Social Issues and Civil Rights
Throughout his congressional career, Meek consistently opposed the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortions. He also expressed opposition to certain bans on late-term abortions and parental notification laws for minors seeking abortions. Meek voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, arguing that such measures were politically motivated distractions from pressing national issues like the war in Iraq, the federal deficit, and rising energy costs. During his 2010 Senate campaign, he voiced support for gay adoption rights.
Electoral Engagements
2010 U.S. Senate Campaign
In January 2009, Meek announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Republican Mel Martinez. He made history by becoming the first statewide candidate in Florida to qualify for the ballot solely through petition collection. The general election in November 2010 was a three-way race against Governor Charlie Crist (Independent) and former House Speaker Marco Rubio (Republican). Meek ultimately secured 20% of the vote, finishing third in the contest.
Electoral History Overview
Meek's electoral record demonstrates consistent representation in Florida's state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. His campaigns for the U.S. House were largely uncontested in the general election. The table below details his results in the 17th congressional district, followed by the results of the significant 2010 U.S. Senate election.
U.S. House Elections (FL-17)
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kendrick B. Meek | 113,749 | 100% | (no candidate) | * | |||||||||
| 2004 | Kendrick B. Meek | 178,690 | 100% | (no candidate) | Omari Musa | Write-in | 734 | <1% | ||||||
| 2006 | Kendrick B. Meek | 90,663 | 100% | (no candidate) | * | |||||||||
| 2008 | Kendrick B. Meek | Elected | N/A | (no candidate) | ** |
**Under Florida law, a candidate who has no opposition at all in the general election is automatically elected without his or her name being placed on the ballot. In 2008, Meek was automatically elected because he had no general election opponents on the ballot and no write-in candidates filed candidacies against him.
2010 U.S. Senate Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marco Rubio | 2,645,743 | 48.89% | −0.54% | |
| Independent | Charlie Crist | 1,607,549 | 29.71% | +29.71% | |
| Democratic | Kendrick Meek | 1,092,936 | 20.20% | −28.12% | |
| Libertarian | Alexander Snitker | 24,850 | 0.46% | N/A | |
| Independent | Sue Askeland | 15,340 | 0.28% | N/A | |
| Independent | Rick Tyler | 7,394 | 0.14% | N/A | |
| Constitution | Bernie DeCastro | 4,792 | 0.09% | N/A | |
| Independent | Lewis Jerome Armstrong | 4,443 | 0.08% | N/A | |
| Independent | Bobbie Bean | 4,301 | 0.08% | N/A | |
| Independent | Bruce Riggs | 3,647 | 0.07% | N/A | |
| Write-ins | 108 | 0.00 | |||
| Majority | 1,038,194 | 19.19% | |||
| Total votes | 5,411,106 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Post-Congressional Engagements
International Representation
In 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Kendrick Meek to serve as a Special Representative to the United Nations, highlighting his continued engagement in public service on an international stage.
Private Sector and Advocacy
Meek joined the law firm King & Spalding LLP in 2016 as a senior advisor, providing strategic counsel to Fortune 500 companies. More recently, since 2023, he has been engaged as a paid advocate for Natural Allies, a fossil fuel industry group, where he has actively lobbied against the transition to clean energy.
Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Kendrick Meek's personal life is anchored by his marriage to Arshi Siddiqui Meek, who serves as CEO of Bellwether Government Affairs and is a former long-time partner at Akin Gump Strauss & Feld, having also been a senior advisor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The couple has two children: Lauren and Kendrick Jr. Meek's mother, Carrie Meek, was a prominent figure in Florida politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives before him.
Historical Context
Political Trajectory
Kendrick Meek's political career spans over two decades, beginning in the Florida Legislature and culminating in his service in the U.S. House of Representatives. His trajectory reflects a consistent engagement with public service, marked by legislative achievements and significant electoral campaigns. The detailed electoral history, including his uncontested House races and his notable 2010 Senate bid, provides a comprehensive view of his electoral journey.
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References
References
- "Representative Kendrick B. Meek." Florida House of Representatives.
- "Florida Senate Handbook 1998-2000." Florida Senate.
- One Florida rules hit campuses St. Petersburg Times
- Tom Bearden has the Florida story. PBS
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and may not be entirely exhaustive, current, or free from interpretation.
This is not professional political analysis or advice. The information provided herein is not a substitute for consulting official records, academic research, or seeking expert analysis from qualified political scientists or historians. The creators of this page are not responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented.