Gen Z House Democrat says he regrets not voting to condemn Hamas support on college campuses

Gen Z House Democrat says he regrets not voting to condemn Hamas support on college campuses

Freshman Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., admitted that he should not have voted against a resolution condemning support for Hamas on college and university campuses. 

"After days of reflection, multiple conversations with my constituents and local leaders, and a difficult, but important listening session with students at UCF Hillel’s chapter — I have come to realize that I should have voted differently on H.Res. 798, to send a clear message that I stand against antisemitism," Frost said in a statement earlier this week.

The resolution, a symbolic piece of legislation, criticized "the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty and staff."

It overwhelmingly passed in a bipartisan 396-to-23 vote last week. Only 22 Democrats, including Frost, and one Republican voted against it.

Frost said he was wary of "a few of the falsehoods" he said were in the Republican resolution and that he was hoping to be able to "vote on the Senate resolution condemning antisemitism, that passed unanimously, but didn’t include those falsehoods." 

"I truly worried that this would open the door for Republicans to infringe on the free speech of students and young people. Which is why I chose to support and co-sponsor the House version of that same Senate resolution," Frost said.