Florida’s District 20 Race Heats Up As Black Candidates Seek to Avoid Split Vote and Defeat Debbie Wasserman Schultz

June 10, 2026

Four Black candidates competing for Florida's District 20 congressional seat held a private meeting to discuss consolidating their campaigns down to one or two candidates in order to improve their chances against incumbent Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the August Democratic primary. District 20 has been a majority-Black district represented by Black lawmakers for 34 years until former Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned during an ethics investigation, though she is now running again. The candidates believe that splitting the Black vote among multiple contenders would make it easier for Wasserman Schultz to win, and they have approximately 10 days before the June 12th filing deadline to decide how to proceed.

Who is affected

The four Black candidates: Dale Holness, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Elijah Manley, and Luther Campbell
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Voters in Florida's District 20, particularly the majority-Black constituency
Black lawmakers who have represented the district for the past 34 years

What action is being taken

Four Black candidates are having private meetings to discuss consolidating their campaigns
All mentioned candidates are currently running for the District 20 seat
Luther Campbell is conducting a fundraiser out of town

Why it matters

This race is significant because District 20 is one of Florida's few majority-Black districts with a 34-year history of Black representation. The candidates believe that splitting the Black vote among multiple contenders would advantage Wasserman Schultz and potentially end this long-standing representation. The candidates view this as a national issue affecting the preservation of minority representation in Congress.

What's next

The candidates have approximately 10 days to decide whether to consolidate their campaigns
The filing deadline to run for the seat is Friday, June 12
The group needs to determine the method for deciding which candidate(s) should move forward

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint