Meek, Kendrick, 1966-

Kendrick Brett Meek (born September 6, 1966) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for Florida's 17th congressional district from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in Florida's 2010 Senate election.

Born in Miami, Florida to future Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek and Harold H. Meek, Knedrick Meek graduated from Miami Springs High School in Miami, where he played football as a defensive lineman. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1989 from Florida A&M University. After graduating from college, Meek was sworn in as a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol and was assigned to Miami. During his four-year tenure, Meek became the first African American to reach the rank of Captain.

After serving in the Florida House of Reprersentatives from 1995 to 1998 and the Florida Senmate from 1998 to 2002, Meek was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, 2002, succeeding his mother. His election made him the second son to succeed a mother directly in Congress. In Meek's four elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, no Republican or third-party candidate had been listed on the general election ballot running against him. He had write-in opponents in three of the four elections and also had a Democratic primary opponent in 2006.

After Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida announced his retirement, Meek quickly announced his intent to run for the open seat in the 2010 election, citing his service as a trooper, state legislator, and in the House. He placed third in the general election behind Independent Charlie Crist and the victor, Republican Marco Rubio.