BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — With redrawn district boundaries, millions of dollars in campaign spending and control of the U.S. House at stake, Democratic incumbent Jared Moskowitz and Republican challenger Scott Singer are making their cases to voters in one of Florida’s most closely watched congressional races.
Redrawn congressional boundaries have reshaped District 25, creating an opportunity for Republicans to unseat Moskowitz in territory that has become more favorable to their party. The race has attracted significant national attention and financial backing, with nearly $42 million spent by the candidates and outside political groups.
For Singer, the campaign is an opportunity to bring his experience in local government to Washington. For Moskowitz, the contest is about defending his congressional record while warning voters about the direction of the country under President Donald Trump.
Asked whether being a Republican aligned with Trump helps or hurts his chances in the current political climate, Singer tried to side-step and pointed to his record as Boca Raton’s mayor, highlighting tax cuts, efforts to lower crime and the creation of high-paying jobs.
When pressed on the question, Singer said voters in the district are more interested in practical results than party affiliation.
“People in this district want common sense, and they’ll take it from whatever party their candidate is,” Singer said.
He also called for a departure from the partisan divisions that have characterized Congress.
“I think members of Congress need to get past the demonography on both sides,” Singer said. “If we’re going to get on board with tackling tough issues, it can’t just be shirts versus skins. That’s what you see in Washington.”
For Singer, the campaign is an opportunity to bring his experience in local government to Washington.
But his campaign messaging has included attacks on Moskowitz’s congressional record, and advertisements from outside parties have gone for the jugular, lampooning the Democrat over “amnesty for illegal aliens” and green-lighting “transgender surgeries for minors.”
Singer disputed the suggestion that his campaign is focused more on attacking his opponent than promoting his own record.
“I disagree. I am running on my record because people want someone who can bring results in Washington, not the career politicians who have been there for 20 years,” he said.
Singer also criticized Moskowitz over his personal stock investments, arguing that lawmakers should not be allowed to trade individual stocks while serving in Congress.
“He has zero bills passed while trading stocks extensively,” Singer said. “I’ll ban stock trading for good, and I won’t trade stocks otherwise. I’m in it for public service, not self-service.”
Singer described himself as someone who communicates directly with voters and said he wants to offer an alternative to longtime Washington politicians.
“I love this county and I love public service,” Singer said. “I am not a fat cat politician. I am something new.”
For Moskowitz, this election cycle has snowballed into something hostile and unfamiliar, it’s gone beyond the usual political battle over policy and party control.
The congressman said his outspoken support for Jewish communities has made him a target of repeated threats, forcing him to maintain security at his home and when traveling.
“This is now a regular occurrence; I can’t go anywhere without security. I have security in front of my house,” Moskowitz said.
He also accused Republicans of redrawing the district to make it more difficult for him to retain his seat.
“This district has turned out to be the most expensive race in the country,” Moskowitz said. “They redrew this district and gerrymandered it in the middle of the night to try to remove me from office. And so they’ve spent a ton of money trying to make sure that can happen. And this race will help decide the balance of power in the House to put brakes on what the administration has been doing,” he said.
For Moskowitz, the contest is about defending his congressional record while warning voters about the direction of the country under President Donald Trump.
Moskowitz is making the economy a central part of his reelection campaign, arguing that voters are struggling with rising costs.
“Look, Americans are struggling. This election is all about the economy,” Moskowitz said.
Moskowitz defended his own record, and he says he supported legislation to restrict stock trading and worked across party lines to advance it.
“I voted for a ban. I was only one of 13 Democrats who voted for that ban across the aisle, and I worked with Republicans to vote for that ban,” Moskowitz said.
Congressional records confirm Moskowitz voted for legislation restricting stock trading by lawmakers. However, the proposal was not a complete prohibition. It would have prevented members of Congress and certain family members from purchasing new individual stocks while allowing them to retain or sell stocks they already owned
Beyond the economy and the stock trading issue, Moskowitz outlined his priorities for a potential next term, including addressing the long-term financial challenges facing Social Security.
He said additional revenue will be necessary to maintain the program and fulfill its obligations to retirees.
“But if we’re being honest, it’s going to need additional revenue into it to keep it going,” Moskowitz said. “And so, look, I support raising revenue into Social Security and making sure that we keep those promises to our seniors.”
Moskowitz has also taken positions on foreign policy that distinguish him from some members of his own party.
As the ranking member of a Middle East subcommittee, he has supported President Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities while criticizing the administration’s handling of the Strait of Hormuz.
As the ranking member of a Middle East subcommittee, Moskowitz has supported President Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities while criticizing the administration’s handling of the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“And I’m glad the Ayatollah is gone, but the president’s strategy for the Strait of Hormuz has been disastrous,” Moskowitz said.
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He added that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon must remain a priority, while reopening the Strait of Hormuz is important to international commerce and lowering costs for Americans.
“We have to remain focused on the goal that they cannot get a nuclear weapon,” Moskowitz said. “And now we have to figure out how we are going to get the Strait fully reopened so we can bring down prices for the American people.”
Moskowitz has also been increasingly outspoken about what he describes as growing antisemitism within the Democratic Party, despite receiving significant financial support from Democratic-aligned organizations.
Asked whether he believes antisemitism has become a problem within his party, Moskowitz said it exists on both sides of the political aisle.
“Yeah, there’s no question there’s an antisemitism problem in the Democratic Party, and there’s an antisemitism problem in the Republican Party,” he said.
His comments underscore one of the challenges of his reelection campaign: defending his party’s broader record while criticizing positions and rhetoric he believes have contributed to hostility toward Jewish Americans and Israel.
Voters will decide the outcome. Election Day is tomorrow.