Elijah Manley finished third in Florida’s 20th Congressional District Democratic primary on August 18, capturing 13 percent of the vote in a crowded race won by incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The 27-year-old substitute teacher and progressive activist drew 7,066 votes in a five-candidate field that tested Wasserman Schultz’s political strength in a newly redrawn district.
Wasserman Schultz secured 47.8 percent of the vote, according to NBC News, positioning her to serve a 12th term in Congress. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness finished second with 22.1 percent, while former U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick placed fourth with 8.9 percent and Luther Campbell fifth with 8.1 percent.
Manley ran as a progressive alternative to Wasserman Schultz, positioning himself as a representative of a new generation. According to The Guardian, progressive groups endorsed the Fort Lauderdale native in his bid to unseat the veteran Democrat, citing his background overcoming childhood homelessness. Manley had raised $275,000 for his campaign and promoted policies including Medicare for All and a $20 minimum wage by 2032.
The primary took place in a district fundamentally reshaped by Republican redistricting. Governor Ron DeSantis signed new congressional boundaries into law on May 4, 2026, during a special legislative session. The redrawn 20th District reduced the Black population from 53 percent under previous boundaries to 45 percent, according to reporting on the redistricting process.
The Split Black Vote and Wasserman Schultz’s Path to Victory
The fragmentation of Black candidates in the race—with Manley, Holness, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Campbell all competing—ultimately benefited Wasserman Schultz, who was the only white candidate on the ballot. The district has been represented by Black Democrats since 1992, and Black leaders and activists criticized Wasserman Schultz’s decision to run there, arguing it threatened Black representation in Congress.
Cherfilus-McCormick, who wanted her seat back after resigning in April while facing a federal ethics investigation, finished fourth despite her prior representation of the district. The division among Black candidates meant that no single opponent could consolidate the anti-Wasserman Schultz vote, allowing the incumbent to win decisively despite the controversial nature of her candidacy among Black Democratic activists.
Manley’s Political Profile and Future
Manley’s third-place finish marked another unsuccessful bid for elected office. According to reporting from August 2026, the substitute teacher had previously run for school board at age 19 in 2018 and placed third in that three-way race as well. Despite the loss, his campaign drew national attention as an example of a Gen Z progressive challenging an established Democrat in a battleground primary.
Wasserman Schultz’s victory in the primary sets up a general election against Republican opposition in November 2026, though the 20th District remains a safe Democratic seat. Her decisive win in the crowded primary demonstrated her continued political strength in South Florida, where she has built her career representing Broward County voters for more than two decades.
Sources
- NBC 6 South Florida — primary election results showing Wasserman Schultz at 47.8%, Holness at 22.1%, Manley at 13%, Cherfilus-McCormick at 8.9%, and Campbell at 8.1%
- ECIKS.org — Wasserman Schultz’s primary victory, redistricting background, and context on the Black candidate field
- The Guardian — progressive group endorsements of Manley and his background overcoming childhood homelessness
- Florida Politics — reporting on the split Black candidate field and its impact on the primary outcome
- WLRN — redistricting details on the 20th District’s changed Black population percentage
