Congressional Candidate Kendrick Meek Jr. says South Florida Needs a New Generation of Leadership to Tackle Affordability Crisis

The candidate for Florida’s 24th Congressional District discusses carrying a family legacy of public service, his federal policy experience and why he believes younger leadership is needed to address housing costs, transportation and immigration.

Florida’s 24th Congressional District candidate Kendrick Meek Jr. says voters shouldn’t mistake his age for inexperience.

During an interview on That Part Podcast, presented by Hy-Lo News and Just Vote Period, Meek argued that while he is one of the youngest candidates seeking the congressional seat, he brings years of federal policy experience and believes a new generation of leadership is needed to address the rising cost of living across South Florida.

“I think they hear that I’m 29, that I’m young, and they think, ‘Okay, I can dismiss him as a serious candidate,'” Meek said. “But I’ve been steeped in public service my entire life.”

Meek, an attorney and public policy professional, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Florida’s 24th Congressional District, an open seat following U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson’s decision not to seek reelection. The district includes portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The grandson of former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek and the son of former U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, he acknowledged the family’s political legacy while emphasizing that voters should evaluate him on his own experience and vision.

“I have the policy experience that we need in a member of Congress,” Meek said. “I have the relationships in Washington that we need to bring resources home to the district.”

Throughout the interview, Meek repeatedly returned to one issue he believes affects nearly every resident in South Florida: affordability.

He said soaring housing prices, rising insurance costs and stagnant wages have made it increasingly difficult for working families, young professionals and seniors to remain in the communities they call home.

“We’re in an affordability crisis,” Meek said. “I was working hard and still struggled to pay my rent. I certainly couldn’t afford a home.”

If elected, Meek said his first priorities in Congress would include lowering healthcare costs through expanded access to affordable coverage, suspending the federal gas tax to provide immediate relief to drivers and protecting Temporary Protected Status recipients while creating a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.

He also advocated for expanding down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and providing tax relief for renters facing high housing costs.

Transportation is another area where Meek believes Congress can play a greater role.

He called for increased federal investment in expanding rapid transit throughout Miami-Dade County, including long-discussed rail connections that would better connect communities such as Miami Gardens with employment centers downtown.

“We need to expand rapid transit,” Meek said. “Congress needs to provide funding to ensure that folks who are working in downtown Miami can get back to their home in Miami Gardens without needing a car.”

Meek also highlighted his previous work in Washington, pointing to his time on the House Judiciary Committee, where he worked on legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, and his work in the White House Office of Management and Budget, where he helped implement policies that capped insulin costs for Medicare recipients.

He said those experiences prepared him to deliver results on Capitol Hill from his first day in office.

On immigration, Meek voiced strong support for extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian, Venezuelan and other immigrant communities while creating long-term pathways to legal residency.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re Americans, and they have every right to stay here,” he said.

Asked how he would remain accountable if elected, Meek said he plans to continue holding town halls, maintain district offices throughout the community and regularly meet residents where they live.

“You have a lot of folks who get elected and they forget about the people who actually got them elected,” he said. “That won’t happen if I’m elected.”

When asked what headline he hopes Hy-Lo News writes after his first two years in Congress, Meek said he wants residents to feel that South Florida has become more affordable and accessible for working families.

“I hope the headline is that South Florida has finally turned around, that it’s actually getting more affordable instead of less affordable,” he said.

Florida’s Democratic primary for Congressional District 24 is scheduled for Aug. 18. The winner will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to compete for the seat representing portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.