BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz officially entered the race for Florida’s 20th Congressional District on Friday, launching a bid to succeed Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and setting up a closely watched Democratic primary in Broward County.
Wasserman Schultz made the announcement in a campaign video that blends her own remarks with praise from supporters, highlighting her record and personal story as she seeks to consolidate support in the deep-blue district.
“I’ve fought for the people of Broward County my whole adult life,” Wasserman Schultz says in the video. “You’ve always been able to count on me to deliver results for our community.”
Wasserman Schultz framed her candidacy around experience and electability, leaning heavily on her tenure in Congress and her role as a senior lawmaker with influence in Washington. “I work hard to deliver results,” she adds later in the video. “We can do this together.”
Her campaign launch comes in the wake of a Republican-led mid-decade redistricting effort that reshaped South Florida’s congressional map, making her previous district more competitive, prompting a shift into the 20th District. The Broward-based seat is one of the most reliably Democratic in the state, and the Aug. 18 primary is widely expected to determine the eventual winner.
The opening followed the April resignation of Cherfilus-McCormick amid legal and ethics challenges, though she has since launched her own campaign to reclaim the seat. The race already includes a crowded field of Democratic contenders, including former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, activist Elijah Manley, physician Rudolph Moise and entertainer Luther Campbell.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 26: U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FLA) appears for a hearing of the House Ethics Committee on Capitol Hill on March 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of stealing $5 million from FEMA and using part of it to fund her first successful run for Congress in 2021. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Wasserman Schultz’s campaign video underscores both her political résumé and her personal narrative, including references to raising a family, battling cancer and leading the Democratic National Committee. “I waged these battles when our values were on the line, all while raising a family, beating cancer, and answering President Obama’s call to lead our party,” she says.
Supporters featured in the video emphasize her long-standing ties to the community and reputation as a fighter. “If you know Debbie Wasserman Schultz, you know that Debbie does not back down from a fight,” one supporter says, while another adds, “Debbie’s always been there to fight for us, to stand up against all forms of hate.”
The messaging also centers on affordability and national politics, with Wasserman Schultz drawing contrasts with Republicans. “Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for reelection in Congressional District 20 because we cannot let President Trump destroy Broward County’s power,” she says in the video. “Republicans couldn’t care less about lowering your health care, gas or grocery bills.”
She goes on to pledge that her seniority will translate into tangible benefits for constituents. “I’ll use all my seniority and clout in Washington to continue to make our lives more affordable and make Broward a safer, less expensive place to live, raise a family, and retire,” she says.
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Wasserman Schultz enters the race with significant advantages, including high name recognition across Broward County and millions of dollars in campaign funds, and decades of experience in both state and federal office. But her candidacy is already fueling debate within the district.
Just days before her announcement, on May 18, candidates vying for the seat sharply criticized the possibility of her entering the race during a Broward Black Democratic Caucus forum, where members urged white Democrats, including Wasserman Schultz, not to run in a district long viewed as a cornerstone of Black political representation. Attendees also raised concerns that her entry could fracture the vote and reshape the outcome of the primary.
Florida’s 20th has been represented by Black lawmakers for more than 30 years, and similar concerns have been echoed more broadly by community leaders and candidates. Critics argue her statewide profile and fundraising strength could split the vote among other candidates in the majority-Black district.
The primary is expected to be among the most competitive Democratic contests in Florida this cycle, drawing attention not only for its outcome but for what it signals about leadership and representation within the party.
For Wasserman Schultz, the closing message of her announcement is direct: “Some people do a lot of talking,” she says. “I work hard to deliver results.”