Franke first became a member of the Bundestag in the
2009 German federal election, representing the
Schwalm-Eder district. He was a member of the Committee on Health, which he chaired from 2014 until 2017. He also served as a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs from 2009 until 2016. In addition to his committee assignments, Franke has been co-chairing the German-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Group since 2018. In 2018,
Federal Minister of Justice Katarina Barley appointed Franke as the government's official commissioner for the victims of terrorist attacks. He served in this position until 2022. Within his parliamentary group, Franke belongs to the
Seeheim Circle. In 2024, Franke announced that he would not seek re-election for the Bundestag. ==Other activities==