Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) won the Democratic primary for Florida’s 20th Congressional District on Tuesday, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ and the Associated Press. Wasserman Schultz, who currently represents the 25th District, entered the race for the newly redrawn seat following a redistricting process led by Florida Republicans. She defeated four other candidates: former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, Elijah Manley, and Luther Campbell.
The primary was marked by debate over representation in the plurality-Black district, which has been served by Black lawmakers for 34 years. Opponents, including Holness, argued that the seat should continue to be held by a Black Democrat. Holness stated in June that the "right thing" would have been for Wasserman Schultz to run in the 22nd District rather than the 20th. Wasserman Schultz defended her candidacy by citing her seniority and record, stating she intended to address affordability for families "stretched to the breaking point."
During the campaign, four of the candidates—Campbell, Cherfilus-McCormick, Holness, and Manley—discussed consolidating support behind a single candidate to avoid splitting the district's Black vote, but they did not reach an agreement before the qualifying deadline. Cherfilus-McCormick sought to return to the seat after resigning earlier this year amid a federal investigation into the alleged misuse of $5 million in FEMA funds for her campaign; she has denied any wrongdoing. Manley, a progressive candidate, received an endorsement from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) but trailed the incumbent in fundraising.
The race also highlights the ongoing impact of redistricting and the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court, which has influenced how congressional lines are drawn in Florida. The shift in representation for this plurality-Black district represents a change in a three-decade-old pattern of leadership by Black lawmakers. Small-business owners and residents in communities like Lauderhill and Pompano Beach will see how this change in representation influences federal attention toward local priorities such as port expansion and insurance reform, which were central themes for several candidates in the race.
The next phase of the election will occur on November 3, 2026, when Wasserman Schultz faces a Republican nominee and independent candidate Kedner Maxime in the general election. Given the district's Democratic leaning, the winner of this primary is widely expected to secure the seat. The result will determine who holds one of Florida's influential congressional votes during the next term, impacting federal policy on health care access, student loans, and economic growth initiatives for the Broward County region.
(Note: The source text includes dates for 2026, which are reflected in this report.)