The veteran Democratic congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz achieved a resounding victory this Tuesday in the general election for Florida's 20th District, defeating Republican Brent Andersen and independent Kedner Maxime in what will be her twelfth term in the House of Representatives.
According to the projected results from Telemundo 51, with nearly 78.8% of the votes counted, Wasserman Schultz received 151,072 votes, amounting to 76.3% of the total, compared to 39,235 votes for Andersen (19.8%) and 7,689 votes for Maxime (3.9%). The Associated Press projected her victory at 7:09 PM Eastern Time.
The contest took place against the backdrop of the redistricting approved by the Florida Legislature and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in early May 2026, a redesign of the congressional map aimed at maximizing the Republican advantage in the state.
That new map fragmented the old District 25, where Wasserman Schultz served as a representative, turning it into a constituency favorable to the Republicans.
In light of that situation, the congresswoman announced her candidacy in May for District 20, which encompasses the central area of Broward County and includes parts of Fort Lauderdale, Tamarac, Coral Springs, and Deerfield Beach, with a predominantly African American population.
In X, the winner thanked her campaign team: "Tonight, our winning campaign stands on the shoulders of hardworking families, devoted congregations, unyielding unions, brave LGBTQ+ advocates, and the proud Black, Caribbean, and Hispanic families that make up our wonderful South Florida community. I am so proud to have earned your overwhelming trust to fight for each of your families," she said.
"During this trip, the residents of Broward County told me they want a fighter in Washington who will work tirelessly to reduce the costs of gasoline, groceries, housing, healthcare, and utilities for every family, and who can protect our democracy and bring significant resources back to our community," he emphasized.
He said that his constituents "also want someone who confronts the costly, corrupt, and cruel MAGA agenda. That is exactly what I have done in Congress, and these election results show that the voters of Broward overwhelmingly trust me to continue that fight."
"I am so honored to continue representing this community and to work alongside the future Speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries, and an impressive group of Democrats as we tirelessly seek ways to make life in Broward County and in the United States safer and more affordable for all of us," she outlined.
Wasserman Schultz's candidacy in that district generated tensions with African American leaders, who explicitly asked her not to run for a seat historically held by Black legislators for decades.
His Republican rival, Brent Andersen, is the founder of the Pilgrim Bay Insurance Agency in Pompano Beach, and he focused his campaign on reducing insurance costs, fiscal responsibility, and border control.
Wasserman Schultz, elected to the federal Congress for the first time in 2004 and considered the most senior Democrat in South Florida, currently serves as co-chair of the House Democratic Leadership and Policy Committee.
In her victory speech, the congresswoman thanked the support of working families, unions, LGBTQ+ communities, and Black, Caribbean, and Hispanic families in South Florida, and promised to work to reduce the costs of gasoline, food, housing, health care, and utilities.
"The election results show that the voters of Broward have complete trust in me to continue that fight," he stated, adding that he will work alongside what he called "future Speaker Hakeem Jeffries" to make life in Broward County and in the United States "safer and more affordable for everyone."
Wasserman Schultz's victory comes at a time when the Democrats are aiming to regain the majority in the , for which they need a net gain of three seats to reach the required 218 votes and potentially make Jeffries the first black Speaker of that legislative body.
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