WASHINGTON \u2014\u00a0Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz faces significant pushback from Black Democrats after she decided to run in a newly redrawn district in South Florida that has a plurality of Black voters and a crowded primary field.<\/p>\n
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The Florida political landscape was scrambled after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation last month creating new congressional maps. Instead of running in the 22nd Congressional District, where she lives, Wasserman Schultz opted to run in the more Democratic-leaning 20th District, which has long been represented by a Black Democrat. <\/p>\n
The move has angered Black leaders and candidates in the district, especially when Republicans have tried to wipe out districts<\/a> long held by Black Democrats after a recent Supreme Court decision that limits the consideration of race<\/a> in drawing congressional maps. <\/p>\n Four Black candidates running in the primary have even discussed coalescing around one or two candidates to take on Wasserman Schultz rather than split the Black vote, according to one of the participants in the meeting.<\/p>\n Wasserman Schultz, an 11-term incumbent and former chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced her decision last month, saying she wanted to ensure her seniority would not be lost.<\/p>\n She argued that if Democrats take control of the House, she would be in line to chair a key committee, which would be good for the district.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have always been able to count on me to deliver results for our community,\u201d she said in a video<\/a> announcing her decision to run, which emphasized her \u201cseniority\u201d and \u201cclout.\u201d<\/p>\n House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who would be in line to become the first Black speaker if Democrats take control of the House in November, told reporters Tuesday that he has not yet decided whether he is endorsing in the race.<\/p>\n \u201cHaven\u2019t made a decision as it relates to that particular race,\u201d said Jeffries, who normally, as caucus leader, would be expected to support an incumbent. <\/p>\n Asked by NBC News on Wednesday about Jeffries\u2019 declining to endorse, Wasserman Schultz said, \u201cHe didn\u2019t say that,\u201d before she quickly walked into the Democratic cloakroom and onto the House floor.<\/p>\n She later told NBC News in a statement that she is \u201cthankful\u201d for the support she is receiving.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the strong broad support I\u2019ve received all over CD20,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll continue to talk with Broward voters and make my case that I\u2019ll be the most effective representative for this whole community, and as always, I\u2019m not taking any support for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n Black Democratic members of Congress have been critical of her decision.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I were in her shoes, I can\u2019t say. … Actually, I do know what I would do,\u201d Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said Wednesday. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do it if I was her, but I\u2019m not her. Because everybody has their reasons for why it is that they want to do what they want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think that there are people that are very concerned, especially with the Black Caucus continuously being under attack,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Black Democrats in Florida have also greeted Wasserman Schultz\u2019s decision with almost universal scorn.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not have expected the call would come from inside the house,\u201d said Elijah Manley, a teacher and activist who was the first candidate to enter the primary race for the district\u2019s seat. \u201cI didn\u2019t think a white Democrat would be the one to take away a Black seat.\u201d<\/p>\n Other Black Democrats in the race include rapper Luther \u201cLuke\u201d Campbell and former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness. <\/p>\n Manley has raised $780,000, the most money aside from Wasserman Schultz, who had raised $2.5 million through March, giving her a commanding financial advantage over the rest of the field.<\/p>\n The 20th Congressional District has been represented by a Black Democrat for nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n The seat has no incumbent after Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., resigned in April <\/a>after the House Ethics Committee found her guilty of ethics violations related to allegations that she stole federal relief funds and used some of the money to fuel her political campaign. <\/p>\n Cherfilus-McCormick, who also faces federal indictment, is again running for the seat.<\/p>\n Campbell released a video in May, before Wasserman Schultz made her decision, warning her not to get in the race for the Black-plurality seat.<\/p>\n![\"Sheila](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/260603-Elijah-Manley-aa-411-7e58cb.jpg\")
“I didn\u2019t think a white Democrat would be the one to take away a Black seat,” Elijah Manley, a candidate in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, said of Wasserman Schultz.Tom Williams \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Luther](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/260603-Luther-Campbell-aa-412-5f7fea.jpg\")
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell is one of the candidates in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.Thaddaeus McAdams \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n