In a move that has stunned both allies and critics, former Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) announced on Monday that she is not finished with Washington. Despite resigning from the 119th Congress just weeks ago to avoid an expulsion, Cherfilus-McCormick recently expressed plans to run for reelection in the upcoming special election for Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
“I never shied away from a fight, and my team has always said, ‘we ready,’ and we are ready to fight and win,” Cherfilus-McCormick declared during a West Broward Democratic Club meeting as reported by NBC 6.
Her announcement sets the stage for a political comeback, as she attempts to reclaim the seat she vacated on April 21, 2026, amid a federal criminal case and amid a House Ethics Committee report.
Cherfilus-McCormick is currently awaiting a federal trial on charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and making false statements. Federal investigators allege she funneled $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds into her 2021 campaign and personal luxury purchases—including a 3.14-carat yellow diamond ring and a Tesla.
When pressed on how she expects to win back the trust of voters, Cherfilus-McCormick remained firm on the importance of due process. She states that her constituents have reached out and asked her to continue to represent them.
The former Congresswoman’s reelection bid is also fueled by a growing turf war within the Democratic Party. Newly approved congressional redistricting maps signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis have scrambled the South Florida political map, leading heavyweights like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to consider a run in District 20.
Cherfilus-McCormick was quick to blast the idea of a veteran non-Black incumbent moving into the historically Black-led district.
“This is not the moment for forum shopping,” she said to the Washington Examiner, explicitly stating she would not support Wasserman Schultz in the race. “What matters in this moment is to make sure all the strides we have made to make sure Black representation is actually present matter.”
As Cherfilus-McCormick doubles down on her record, she faces a primary challenge from community advocate Elijah Manley.
In an exclusive interview on the Can We Talk Podcast with Hy-Lo News Publisher Janéy Tate, Manley noted he was “praying” for his former opponent’s legal troubles. However, he maintained that her decision to step down was necessary for the district’s stability.
With the filing deadline for the special election approaching on June 12, the race for District 20 is becoming a high-stakes referendum on due process, ethics, and the future of Black political power in Florida.
Hy-Lo News will continue to cover this developing story and provide updates on the special election field.
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