SUNRISE, FLA. (WSVN) - U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has clinched her party’s nomination for a newly redrawn House seat.
With nearly all of the votes counted Tuesday night, the 59-year-old congresswoman, who was nominated for her 12th term in office, won with nearly 46% of the vote.
After the Florida Legislature decided to draw a new redistricting map to favor the Republicans, Wasserman Schultz had a choice: run in her now-former district that had been reconfigured or run in this new District 20.
Despite backlash from some Democrats for her decision to run in a majority-minority district, the congresswoman defeated four other candidates to win this seat. If she wins in November, it will be the first time in more than 30 years that the district won’t be represented by a Black lawmaker.
Wasserman Schultz’s opponents argued that the district required a Black representative, but voters on Tuesday decided to back the candidate who has long touted her years of experience serving in Congress since 2005.
“Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump came into Broward County and blew up our congressional map, tried to come after Broward County and rig our maps. They tried to decide who was going to represent our community, and it was just incredibly emotional after three and a half months of knocking on people’s doors and making phone calls,” she said.
During the primary campaign, Wasserman Schultz pledged to protect entitlement programs, defend abortion rights and push back against the Trump administration.
Speaking to supporters on Tuesday night, the congresswoman said she was thankful for voters’ confidence in her and said she hoped to live up to the legacy of Alcee Hastings, a longtime representative of District 20.
“This is a very sensitive time right now. The Republicans have absolutely come after minority representation. Representation matters; I said that throughout the campaign. Experience matters, too, and what was important in this election and what we talked about throughout the whole campaign was that people on balance needed to take the totality of things that matter to them and who represented them and make a decision,” she said.
As for the Republican primary, District 20 voters chose businessman Brent Andersen to be their party’s nominee. He won his primary slot easily.
Andersen took to social media Tuesday night, writing in an X post:
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my neighbors. I look forward to a spirited conversation with Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz about the future of our country.”
According to his campaign page, he’s pledged to lower costs and fight for constitutional principles.
There will also be an independent candidate on the November ballot, Dr. Kedner Maxime.
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