Al Lawson

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. (1948-09-23) September 23, 1948 (age 75) 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.