Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won her bid for another House term Tuesday, securing the Democratic nomination in Florida’s 20th Congressional District. She opted to run in the majority-minority district, which covers parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, after state Republicans reconfigured her former 25th District into a Republican stronghold.
Wasserman Schultz, first elected to Congress in 2004, was endorsed by mainstream Democratic organizations, including the Broward County teachers’ union, the Giffords pro-gun control group, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She also received backing from former Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.).
However, her candidacy in the 20th District drew criticism from some within her party. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) declined to endorse her, citing "the sensitivities of the moment in terms of an unprecedented Jim Crow-like assault on Black political representation." Progressive activist Elijah Manley, who ran in the primary, called Wasserman Schultz's move "cynical" for entering the district and competing in a split field.
Manley, endorsed by the pro-Bernie Sanders group Our Revolution, also contended that Wasserman Schultz was attempting to "take away black representation."
The primary also featured former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who faced federal fraud charges. Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of misappropriating $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds intended for her family’s healthcare company and channeling them to her congressional campaign. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to 53 years if convicted.
Wasserman Schultz also navigated shifting party dynamics on issues concerning Israel during her campaign.