Surprise Wins in Florida Primaries Will Test the Future of State’s Black Political Power

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida won the Aug. 18 Democratic primary for the state’s historically Black 20th Congressional District — besting contenders including a hip-hop icon, a former congresswoman accused of stealing disaster funds, a Jamaica-born former mayor, and a progressive educator.

Beneath some of the drama that’s captured headlines lie real stakes for Black residents of the district. They’re confronting not only the high cost of living, housing insecurity, and concerns over migration policies, but also the future of Black political representation at a moment when it’s being undermined in legislatures across the South.

“Affordability and the cost of living are top tier for folks,” Dwight Bullard, a senior political adviser with the community group Florida Rising and a former Democratic state senator, told Capital B. At the same time, he said, the district has a large population of migrants from Haiti, Jamaica, and elsewhere in the Caribbean, creating a high level of “fear around what the current administration is doing.”

Though most attention was focused on the crowded Democratic field, Republicans held a four-way primary on Aug. 18, too, with Brent Anderson winning his party’s nomination.

But that wasn’t the only closely watched Florida race: Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon won a special primary for U.S. Senate, and Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won his party’s nomination to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis. Nixon would be the first Black U.S. senator from the state and Donalds would be Florida’s first Black governor.

The 20th Congressional District, which spans Palm Beach and Broward counties, is deeply rooted in the struggle for Black political representation. In 1992, a federal court ordered Florida to create a majority-Black South Florida district, helping to send Alcee Hastings to Congress the following year. A Black lawmaker has represented the district ever since.

In May, Florida Republicans enacted new districts, hoping to help their party gain four seats in the House of Representatives. The 20th District — which had the largest Black population in the state — became a target.

At the urging of President Donald Trump and DeSantis, the lawmakers redrew the district’s boundaries by bringing in more white voters (DeSantis referred to the claw-shaped 20th as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that needed to be reworked). As a result, they took away its status as a majority-Black district.

Which Democrats ran?

Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell: Best known as a member of the provocative rap group 2 Live Crew, Campbell now brands himself as the “adult in the room.” He’s gained attention in recent years for his online critiques of public figures and systems he believes deserve more scrutiny. Campbell has tried and failed to win elected office in the past, most notably his 2011 bid to become Miami’s mayor. His priorities include affordable housing and job creation.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick: Cherfilus-McCormick represented the 20th Congressional District until she resigned in April under a cloud of suspicion and a continuing investigation. It was her resignation that prompted the need for this primary. Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of stealing $5 million in disaster relief funds for her 2021 campaign, allegations that she denies. She stepped down just hours before she was due to meet with the House Ethics Committee, but a few weeks after she left office, Cherfilus-McCormick announced her plans to run again and try to win back her seat. Her priorities include strengthening the economy.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Wasserman Schultz has served in Congress since 2005 — but never in the 20th Congressional District. After the state’s congressional map was redrawn, her current district, District 25, now leans heavily to the right, making a win for her there less likely. She’s now running in the 20th. Some in the party have voiced their frustration with Wasserman Schultz, who is white, as they see her decision to run in their district as denying Black representation. Her priorities include the cost of living and corruption.

Dale Holness: Born in Jamaica, Holness moved to the U.S. when he was a teenager, and he eventually served on the Lauderhill City Commission. Later, he spent more than a decade on the Broward County Commission and served as the mayor of the county. This wasn’t his first bid for the seat: Holness lost the 2021 Democratic primary to Cherfilus-McCormick by just five votes. His priorities include affordable housing and education.

Elijah Manley: Manley has presented himself as a progressive alternative to the other candidates. The 27-year-old Fort Lauderdale native and teacher has spoken about experiencing homelessness as a child and about his experiences as an openly gay man. His priorities include LGBTQ rights, healthcare access, and affordable housing.

Which Republicans ran?

Rod Joseph: A U.S. Army veteran and Haitian migrant, Joseph has made his background a prominent part of his campaign, urging for stronger border security as well as supporting certain legal pathways to U.S. citizenship. He’s also a recipient of the Purple Heart. His priorities include criminal justice and affordable housing.

Lateresa “LA” Jones: Jones has experience as a small-business owner. Additionally, she has organized to support the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, increase voter participation in presidential elections, and promote child safety. Her priorities include public safety, affordable housing, and education.

Carla Spalding: A U.S. Navy veteran and registered nurse, Jamaica-born Spalding unsuccessfully challenged Wasserman Schultz in 2022 for the 25th Congressional District seat and ran in the Republican primary for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District in 2024. Her priorities include healthcare access and public safety.

Brent Andersen: Andersen has experience as an insurance broker and is making his first bid for Congress. His business background has been a central point in his campaign. His priorities include public safety and education.

What were other key races?

In what was seen as an upset, Nixon, who enjoys support from others in the party’s progressive wing, defeated retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman. She’s scheduled to face a jury trial the week of Sept. 21 following her May 15 arrest during a sit-in at DeSantis’ office against redrawn congressional maps. Nixon has called the case “the weaponization of a justice system to punish political pushback.” She’ll now face U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody.

Armed with Trump’s endorsement, Donalds won to succeed DeSantis. He’ll now compete against Republican-turned-Democrat David Jolly in November. Currently, Democrat Wes Moore of Maryland is the only Black governor. He’s up for reelection this fall.

Which issues are top of mind for Black voters?

For all the attention on the candidates themselves, Bullard said that many Black voters are focused on something far more basic: whether they can afford to live in South Florida.

Parts of South Florida’s cost of living outpaced that of New York City for the first time, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Even without a state income tax, high insurance and property costs, coupled with lower average salaries, disproportionately affect Miami residents.

They’re desperate for a representative who can respond to the rising cost of living and “bring resources back to the community,” he said.

Migration, Bullard added, is another source of great concern in a district home to large Haitian, Jamaican, and other Caribbean communities. He maintained that voters are looking for someone willing to be “in a vocal opposition to what’s happening up in Washington, D.C., with the current administration,” which has launched a fierce crackdown on migration. Earlier this summer, temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of Haitians expired.

Then, there’s the question of Black political power.

The district has sent a Black lawmaker to Congress since 1992: first Hastings, then Cherfilus-McCormick. Bullard said that if the district elects a non-Black representative — which now appears inevitable — Florida would likely be left with only two Black members of Congress.

“That’s clear regression and a move in the wrong direction in terms of Black political representation,” Bullard said. “That should give everyone a heightened sense of concern.”

Ultimately, he said, Black voters want someone who understands that representing the district is about more than just holding office.

“This is a community that thrives on relationships,” Bullard said. “That’s the type of energy people are accustomed to — people who are willing to give a personal touch to that district.”

Read More:

• A Sudden Resignation Leaves Florida’s Blackest Congressional District in Limbo
• 2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke Is Running for Congress and Calling Out Black Trump Supporters
• As the Sea Rises and Rents Triple, Miami’s Black Neighborhoods Are Disappearing

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