Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) announced Friday that she will run in a neighboring congressional district previously represented by former Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida’s 25th Congressional District, previously served as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and is the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee. In her campaign announcement Friday, she pledged to use her “seniority in Washington to make Broward a safer, less expensive place to live, raise a family, and retire,” while arguing that “we cannot let Trump and DeSantis take away Broward County’s power.”
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The state’s 20th Congressional District was previously represented by Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned from Congress shortly before a scheduled House Ethics Committee hearing over allegations she improperly obtained $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April.
The move also comes after Florida’s congressional map was redrawn, making Wasserman Schultz’s previous district more competitive for a Republican challenger.
Wasserman Schultz’s announcement drew pushback from Florida Democrats and Republicans alike.
“Debbie Wasserman Schultz is abandoning her home district because she knows she was headed for defeat in a seat President Trump won by double digits,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement. “Instead of facing voters after years of backing Democrats’ failed agenda, Wasserman Schultz is running scared and handing Republicans a prime pickup opportunity.”
Fellow Democratic candidate Elijah Manley in the 20th District also criticized Wasserman Schultz’s decision to run, writing in a post on X that she was “carpetbagging to FL-20, a Black opportunity district instead of running in her own.”
Wasserman Schultz is also expected to face competition from Cherfilus-McCormick, who announced a reelection bid one day after resigning from office despite the allegations against her.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ WEIGHS DISTRICT 20 BID AS CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK VOWS TO FIGHT FOR REELECTION
Cherfilus-McCormick has insisted she remains committed to the district and dismissed the idea of backing another Democrat should more candidates enter the race.
“Absolutely not, because I’m running in District 20,” she told reporters earlier this month. “I’ve never shied away from a fight. I am still fighting, and my team has always said we’re ready. We’re ready for this fight. We’re ready to fight and win.”
