Frank Gonzalez
From dKosopedia
Frank Gonzalez was the Democratic challenger in in Florida's 21st Congressional district in 2006, but he lost to incumbent Republcian Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The 21st Congressional District of Florida was created following the 1990 Census as a Republican district with a large Cuban-American population.
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2004 Campaign
Gonzalez ran as a Libertarian in 2004 against Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart in a race that did not include a Democratic candidate. Despite the advantages for the incumbent, Gonzalez won 27.2% of the vote with 54,736 total votes. This was one of the best showings for a third-party candidate in the country, and better than the only previous Democrat to run in the district in 1998--24.13% with 28,378 votes.
Libertarian Turned Democrat
For the 2006 election Frank Gonzalez registered as a Democrat and made plans to run against Lincoln Diaz-Balart again. He became active in the Democratic Freedom Caucus and focused on appealing to traditional Democrats, philosophical libertarians, "old school" conservatives, and voters who are not identified with a major party. His major issues included ending the occupation of Iraq, repealing the Patriot Act and protecting civil liberties, and normalizing our relations with Cuba by ending the trade sanctions and travel restrictions. On Election Day, Frank Gonzalez improved on his 2004 results by winning 41% of the vote with 44,972 total votes. This was the best showing for a Democrat in the district's history.
2008 Campaign
Shortly after the 2006 Election, Frank Gonzalez announced that he was planning another run as a Democrat. He had previously made a promise to run again if he received over 40% of the vote, which he did.
Background
Gonzalez is the son of Cuban immigrants who came to America in the early 1960s to flee Castro's regime in Cuba. The Miami native spent time working as a flight attendant before entering politics.
External Link: http://www.electfrank.org/
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