Wasserman Schultz clinches Florida House primary win despite pushback from Black Democrats

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is projected to win the Democratic primary for a South Florida House seat despite pushback from some in the party who argued the plurality-Black district should be represented by a Black Democrat, according to Decision Desk HQ. Wasserman Schultz defeated four other Democrats for the Broward County-based House seat, including former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), who resigned earlier this year amid allegations that she misused $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for her campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing. The congresswoman notably fended off a challenge from progressive Elijah Manley, who trailed her in fundraising and notched an endorsement from Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.) Wasserman Schultz decided to run for the newly redrawn 20th Congressional District in the Sunshine State after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis pressed lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional lines ahead of the midterms. Both Republicans and Democrats have changed congressional maps to create new pickup opportunities in November, but a Supreme Court decision dismantling the Voting Rights Act turbocharged Republicans to make more changes before the midterms. Wasserman Schultz currently represents the Pembroke Pines-based 25th District, situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. But she decided to run for the newly reshaped 20th District after Republicans redistricted, angering some who argued that a Black Dem…