Florida’s Tuesday primary has intensified a debate over racial representation after Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) entered a newly redrawn congressional district, pitting her against four Black Democratic candidates in a historically majority-Black area of Broward County.
The 20th Congressional District, which has elected Black Democrats since 1992, now includes Wasserman Schultz’s home following Republican-led redistricting that reshaped the state’s congressional map. The move has drawn criticism from opponents who argue her presence dilutes Black political representation in the district.
Elijah Manley, a 27-year-old progressive House candidate, accused Wasserman Schultz of “carpetbagging” into the district during a CNN interview on Monday, calling her decision “cynical.” Manley, who is also running in the primary, stated, “I think it’s cynical for the congresswoman to carpetbag into a district and try to take away black representation in a split field.”
Wasserman Schultz, a former Democratic National Committee chairwoman with significant fundraising advantages, is the sole white candidate among five Democrats vying for the seat. Florida’s primary rules do not require a majority to win, giving her a structural edge despite the crowded field.
Critics, including former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, have framed Wasserman Schultz’s candidacy as an “erasure of history” and a threat to Black political access. Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned from the seat in April amid an ethics investigation, is among those seeking to reclaim the district. “For her to come in like this is just another Broward seat, it’s a complete erasure of our history, our fight for Black access,” she said.
Manley acknowledged that Republicans’ redistricting—not Wasserman Schultz—created the competitive field but argued she had alternatives. “She had other options,” he said, referencing a gerrymandered district that includes a more conservative Gulf Coast area. “Instead, she stabbed us in the back, trying to take away Black representation.”
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act cleared the way for states like Florida to redraw districts, prompting warnings from the Congressional Black Caucus that the changes could reduce its membership by over a quarter.
Wasserman Schultz has not publicly addressed the racial representation debate but has emphasized her experience and policy record in campaign appearances. Her campaign materials highlight her 12-term tenure and leadership roles in Washington, positioning her as a seasoned advocate for the district’s priorities.
The primary outcome will determine which Democrat advances to the general election in a district that has consistently supported Democratic candidates. The winner will face no Republican opposition in November, given the district’s partisan lean.