Florida State Senator Dies After Complications From Knee Replacement Surgery

Prominent Florida Democratic state Sen. Geraldine Thompson passed away on Thursday due to complications arising 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 expressed in a statement.

According to the Associated Press, “Thompson served as vice chair on the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education. She also served on the Education Postsecondary; Education Pre-K-12; Fiscal Policy; Judiciary, Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; and Rules committees.”

The 76-year-old lawmaker from the Orlando region had been a member of the Florida Legislature since 2006. She last held a seat in the Florida Senate in 2022. Previously, she served in the Florida Senate from 2012 to 2016 and was also part of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2012, returning to serve from 2018 to 2022.

On the national stage, two high-profile Democratic senators have declared they will not seek re-election.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith surprised the political sphere on Thursday by announcing she will not pursue another term in 2026.

Smith shared that she has “loved” serving as a U.S. senator but wishes to devote more time to her family, particularly her four grandchildren, as conveyed in a video posted on the social media platform X.

“I wanted you to hear directly from me that I have decided not to run for re-election in the United States Senate in 2026. I’ve loved my job as a United States senator. And also, after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family. You know when I first came into this Senate I didn’t have any grandchildren, and now Archie and I have four. Our sons, Sam & Mason, and daughters-in-law, Emily and Julia, are all living in Minneapolis,” Smith stated.

“Since I don’t have to worry about running an election or a re-election campaign, I can focus entirely on this job right now. Second, we have a deep bench of political talent in Minnesota, a group of leaders that are more than ready to pick up the work and carry us forward, and I’m excited to make room for them to move forward,” she continued.

“At the end of the day, what I’m going to miss most about this job is not the perks or certainly not all the attention; it’s going to be that has been an inspiration to me every single day that I’ve served, so I’m grateful for that, and I’m going to spend the next two years figuring out how. Thank you all so much,” Smith concluded.

Meanwhile, Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters also revealed that he will not seek a third term in 2026, leaving open a competitive battleground seat.

The 66-year-old’s unexpected decision to step down after two terms poses a challenge for Michigan Democrats as they navigate a crucial moment, likely having to divide their political resources between the Senate and gubernatorial races in 2026.

“I always thought there would be a time that I would step aside and pass the reins for the next generation. I also never saw service in Congress as something you do your whole life,” Peters shared with The Detroit News in an interview published Tuesday.

“And that goes back to 2008 when I first won that House seat. I thought it would be for a matter of a few terms that I would serve, and then I would go back to private life. I want to be very clear: I’m not retiring. I’m just not running for reelection in the Senate. I hope, God willing, I have a lot more good years ahead,” Peters added.

“After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and then turn over the reins,” Peters remarked in a YouTube video. “I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026.”

Peters’ decision comes in the wake of President Trump securing a victory in Michigan in the 2024 election, further complicating Democratic efforts to regain control of the Senate. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, Michigan Democrats now face the challenge of defending a key Senate seat without an incumbent advantage.