Gwen Margolis

Who is Gwen Margolis?

Gwen Margolis is a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 35th District from 2003 through 2008. She was previously a member from 1981 through 1992, and was the first woman president, from 1990 through 1992. From 1975 through 1980 she was a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Margolis left state government in 1993, losing to E. Clay Shaw, Jr. in an unsuccessful bid for the United States Congress. Thereafter she became a County Commissioner for Miami-Dade County until she returned to the state senate.

She was previously married to Allan Margolis.

She was a candidate for the position of Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser in 2008. She received the most votes in the November 4, 2008 general election. However, due to not having received at least fifty percent of the vote plus one, she had to face the next highest vote-getter, Pedro Garcia Jr., in a December 16, 2008 run-off. She filed a lawsuit to avoid the run-off election, arguing that because the appraiser's office is a constitutional position, no runoff should be required under state law. Her lawsuit was unable to prevent the runoff election, which she lost to Garcia.

Margolis again ran for the Florida State Senate in District 35 in 2010. She received the nomination of the Democratic Party on August 24, 2010, defeating Kevin Burns in the primary.