Past opponent kicks off campaign challenge after Miramar congresswoman indicted
Last week’s federal indictment of U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Miramar has jolted Florida’s 20th Congressional District race.
Dale V.C. Holness, the former Broward County mayor, was defeated by Cherfilus-McCormick by five votes in 2021. Now, after federal prosecutors allege she infused her campaign with some of the estimated $5 million she’s accused of misappropriating from the federal government, Holness is accelerating his campaign for the seat.
With little fanfare, Holness had filed in August to challenge Cherfilus-McCormick in November 2026.
But following his opponent’s indictment last week, Holness is holding his official campaign kickoff Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 4325 W. Sunrise Blvd. in Plantation.
“District 20 deserves a representative who shows up, delivers results, and understands the struggles our families face every day,” Holness said.
Holness and Cherfilus-McCormick first faced off in the bitter 2021 congressional primary, in which Cherfilus-McCormick defeated the better-known Holness. He demanded a recount. Holness’s campaign was accused of sending a text alleging Cherfilus-McCormick “embezzled $6 million in taxpayer dollars to buy a seat in Congress,” the Miami Herald previously reported.
Cherfilus-McCormick responded in 2022 with a defamation lawsuit against Holness and his campaign, claiming the text message was false and damaging to her reputation. The outcome of the lawsuit is unknown.
While Miramar is not within District 20, Cherfilus-McCormick lived there, and federal prosecutors have said much of the alleged wrongdoing occurred from her home and several Miramar businesses created to conceal the $5 million she is accused of misappropriating.
The Broward cities within the congressional district include Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes and Tamarac.
Cherfilus-McCormick was charged by a federal grand jury in Miami with 15 counts of stealing and laundering COVID-19 disaster relief funds through her family-owned healthcare company, then using the money to boost her congressional campaign.
Cherfilus-McCormick and her attorneys have denied wrongdoing, calling the case “an unjust, baseless, sham indictment.”
Holness, a Democrat and longtime Broward politician, emphasized the need for stable leadership in a district that has seen years of political turbulence.
With 40 years in politics, Holness has served as a Lauderhill commissioner, Broward commissioner and county mayor before deciding to run for Congress.
He says his campaign platform focuses on lowering the cost of living for working families, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, raising wages, improving access to health and mental-health care, expanding small-business opportunities and investing in infrastructure and public transit.
Holness also cited the 2025 Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed Report (ALICE) report, which shows nearly half of households in District 20 cannot afford basic needs.
“These aren’t just statistics—these are our neighbors, coworkers, and family members,” he said in the release. “District 20 is at a breaking point, and Washington cannot continue ignoring communities like ours.”
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM.
