Government

Candidate exits race, blasts Wasserman Schultz over District 20 run. What to know

By Produced using AI, based on original work by Luisa Yanez
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a longtime Congressional Democrat, has announced her bid for Florida’s District 20 following redistricting. If elected, she would represent southern Coral Springs as well as North Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Tamarac and surrounding cities.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a longtime Congressional Democrat, has announced her bid for Florida’s District 20 following redistricting. If elected, she would represent southern Coral Springs as well as North Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Tamarac and surrounding cities. Joe Readle Getty Images

Backlash continued against Broward Congresswoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz following her announcement that she will seek re-election in Florida’s newly redrawn District 20, a historically Black seat.

Rudolph “Rudy” Moise, a Haitian-American physician, dropped out of the race on Monday, May 25, and criticized Wasserman’s motives for running.

“This seat should never become a political fallback plan or a vehicle for political survival while the very communities it was created to empower risk being pushed aside,” Moise said in a statement.

Moise threw his support to one-time Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and rap music executive Luther Campbell, both Democrats.

Rudolph Moise is dropping out of the race for Florida’s 20th Congressional District following the announcement that Debbie Wasserman Schultz will also run for the seat.
Rudolph Moise is dropping out of the race for Florida’s 20th Congressional District following the announcement that Debbie Wasserman Schultz will also run for the seat. Dr. Rudolph Moise for Congress

The District 20 seat became vacant after Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who lives in Miramar, resigned from Congress on April 21 minutes before a vote to remove her over ethics violations.

She is now back in the race to reclaim her old seat, which includes the southern end of Coral Springs as well as all or part of Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac and Wilton Manors.

Last week, Wasserman Schultz announced her intention to run for re-election in District 20 after her District 25 was redrawn with a Republican tilt to include parts of eastern Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat who lives in Weston, has served in Congress since first being elected in November 2004.

Her decision to jump into District 20 quickly ignited racial and political tensions within South Florida Democratic circles.

FULL STORY: Wasserman Schultz jumps into Black-majority seat, igniting Broward political fight

Here are key takeaways:

  • Wasserman Schultz is the only white candidate as of May 26 running in the majority-Black district, which has long been represented by Black lawmakers, including the late Alcee Hastings and most recently Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
  • Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned from Congress while facing punishment for ethics violations, is running to reclaim the seat despite an upcoming criminal trial. She and Wasserman Schultz have a tense history dating back years.
  • Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones, the Black Democratic leader in the state Senate, publicly urged Wasserman Schultz to stay out, saying “Black representation is a non-negotiable for me.”
  • Wasserman Schultz framed her bid as a fight against Republican-led redistricting, blaming Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers for “an overtly partisan map” that weakened Democratic strength in Broward.
  • Her rollout included endorsements from Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco and former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.