Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was projected to win a competitive Democratic primary in a historically Black district in Florida, likely securing her return to the House of Representatives in January.
The Associated Press called the race for Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday night.
Wasserman Schultz had been under heavy scrutiny from Democratic officials for choosing to run in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, which has long been represented by a Black lawmaker and has a plurality Black population. Wasserman Schultz, the only white candidate in the race, ran against four Black Democrats after redistricting effectively eliminated her current seat.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that redrew Florida’s congressional maps in an effort to bolster his party’s chances of picking up seats in the 2026 midterms.
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Wasserman Schultz, best known for her role as chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 election cycle, lives in the new 22nd Congressional District, which now leans Republican. She hopped in the race for Florida’s 20th Congressional District, one of the safest blue seats in the state, in late May. The lawmaker will face Brent Andersen, who won the Republican nomination Tuesday.
The lawmaker’s decision to run in a district that Black lawmakers have represented for more than three decades comes amid concerns from the Congressional Black Caucus that many of its members will not be returning after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, allowing states to eliminate race-based districts.
Wasserman Schultz faced backlash from Black Democrats from the launch of her campaign: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to endorse her in the race multiple times; CBC Chair Yvette Clark told Politico that her decision to run in a district that has been historically represented by a Black person was “painful,” after Wasserman Schultz suggested that the CBC encouraged her to run; and a number of Black officials in the state have denounced her.
Despite the intraparty anger aimed at Wasserman Schultz, she benefited from the crowded primary, which ultimately divided the primary vote against her. The lawmaker ran against embattled former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who held the seat until she resigned in April but once again ran for reelection, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, activist Elijah Manley and rapper Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell.
Shortly after the AP called the race, Manley told NOTUS over text that he called Wasserman Schultz to concede the race.
“She said thank you, and that it was the first time someone in the same race as her has ever called to concede,” Manley said.
This story has been updated with the race call for the Republican nomination in the district and a comment from Elijah Manley.
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