Four Black candidates have qualified for the closely watched Democratic Primary in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.

As a result, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is the longest-serving Democrat in Florida’s congressional delegation, is now the only White candidate in a crowded race. Other candidates include Luther Campbell, a rapper who became a community leader, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, and progressive activist Elijah Manley.

Since the early 1990s, District 20 has had a Black-majority population, but a new map approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis changed that. The Governor said the changes were needed to create a “race-neutral” map, expecting the Supreme Court to make it harder to use race as a factor in redistricting.

People in the district have not had representation since Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in April. She left her seat to avoid a possible expulsion vote after an Ethics investigation found she broke House rules 25 times. She is also under federal investigation for allegedly directing over $5 million in federal disaster funds to her 2021 campaign.

Many people in the district have questioned why she is running again, and at least two polls show her trailing several other candidates.

The other candidates each believe they have the best chance to win. Manley has raised the most money among those challenging Wasserman Schultz. Holness ran against Cherfilus-McCormick in the last Democratic Primary for this seat and lost by just five votes. Campbell, who was the frontman for 2 Live Crew, is well known and can fund his own campaign.

For the Republicans, Lateresa “LA” Jones, Rod Joseph, Brent Anderson, and nurse Carla Spalding have qualified. Independent candidate Kedner Maxime is also on the ballot.

However, the Democratic Primary will probably decide who represents the district in Congress next year. The area is a Democratic stronghold, with about 68% voting for Harris for President. Since there is no runoff, the winner of the Democratic Primary will likely serve the next two years.

Wasserman Schultz has faced strong criticism for running in a seat that has traditionally been represented by Black candidates. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried also spoke to the Miami Herald about these concerns.

The race has also seen concerns about possible antisemitism. At a recent meeting of Black candidates, Holness was accused of questioning whether Jews were trying to win all the region’s congressional seats, though he denies saying this. Wasserman Schultz is Jewish.

Campbell spoke about this more openly in a social media video, suggesting that U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who is also Jewish, worked with Wasserman Schultz to decide where each would run. He also claimed that Moskowitz, who once led the Florida Division of Emergency Management, may have set up Cherfilus-McCormick by giving her health clinic extra disaster funds that she allegedly used for her campaign.

The post Four Black candidates and Debbie Wasserman Schultz round out CD 20 Democratic Primary field appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..