Home - CBSNews.com
· collected 2026-08-19 · by Sergio Candido, CBS Miami Team
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has won the Democratic primary for Florida's newly redrawn Congressional District 20, defeating four opponents in a closely watched South Florida race. According to the AP projection, Wasserman Schultz will face the Republican nominee and independent candidate Kedner Maxime in the November general election. The district has been represented by Black lawmakers for the past 34 years, but Wasserman Schultz's victory puts her one step closer to representing it. With this win, she looks to maintain Broward County's Democratic power in Washington and prioritize issues such as affordability.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Florida Primary Results
- Angie Nixon projected winner in Florida Democratic Senate primary
+ NBC News projects that Angie Nixon will win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida.
- Jolly thanks supporters after projected win in Florida Democratic gubernatorial primary
+ Charlie Crist is projected to win the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida.
- Rep. Donalds celebrates projected win in Florida GOP governor primary
+ Rep. Matt Gaetz's ally, Rep. Byron Donalds, is projected to win the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida.
Takeaways from Tuesday Primaries
- Trump endorsement can't lift Mills
+ Embattled and scandal-ridden Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his reelection bid in Florida Tuesday.
- GOP Rep. Cory Mills loses his Florida primary amid investigations
+ NBC News projects that Ryan Elijah, a former TV news anchor and NFL sideline reporter, will win the Republican nomination for Congress in Florida's 7th District.
Socialist Movement Gains Ground
- Socialists capture major Florida victory on hit-or-miss night for Trump-endorsed primary candidates
+ A socialist, Angie Nixon, is projected to win the Democratic Senate primary in Florida.
- Sunshine State socialist scores shocking Senate upset despite being heavily outspent
+ Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon scored a massive upset in the state's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Other Primary Results
- GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola advance to Alaska Senate race
+ Senator Dan Sullivan is projected to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Alaska.
- Wasserman Schultz wins Florida’s 20th District Democratic primary, NBC News projects
+ Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is projected to win the Democratic nomination for Congress in Florida's 20th District.
Investigations and Controversies
- Mills faces a House Ethics Committee investigation; a judge issued a restraining order against him last year after he was accused by his former girlfriend of threatening to distribute sexually explicit videos of her.
- The loss makes him the latest member of a relatively rare set of Republican candidates who lost GOP primaries even with Trump’s blessing.
Written for “Florida Primary Election Results” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 19 other(s) covering the same event.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has won the Democratic primary for Florida's newly redrawn Congressional District 20, defeating four opponents in a closely watched South Florida race, AP projects.
asserted
AP → win → race
Wasserman Schultz defeated former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, teacher Elijah Manley and community activist and rapper Luther Campbell in Tuesday's primary.
asserted
Schultz → defeat → primary
The victory puts Wasserman Schultz one step closer to returning to Congress from a district that has been represented by Black lawmakers for the past 34 years.
asserted
that → put → years
She will face the Republican nominee,
, and independent candidate Kedner Maxime in the Nov. 3 general election.
asserted
She → face → election
Wasserman Schultz entered the District 20 race after Republican-led redistricting eliminated her current congressional district.
asserted
redistricting → enter → district
She leaned heavily on her experience in Congress during the campaign, arguing that her seniority and record would allow her to effectively represent residents of the newly drawn district.
asserted
her → lean → district
The district includes predominantly Black communities in central and western Broward County, encompassing portions of Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Plantation, Sunrise and Pompano Beach.
asserted
district → include → Lauderdale
"Our campaign galvanized an unstoppable coalition of energized congregations, unions, LGBTQ+ advocates and proud Black, Caribbean and Hispanic communities, and we did it in the face of a rushed, brazenly illegal Republican gerrymander," Wasserman Schultz said Tuesday night in a statement.
asserted
Schultz → galvanize → statement
"Voters showed their strong unity by ensuring Broward's formidable Democratic political power in Washington stays intact.
asserted
power → show → Washington
And what drives Democrats' work in Congress is to make food, housing, and healthcare more affordable, and fiercely protect our democracy."
asserted
food → drive → democracy
During an interview with CBS News Miami ahead of the primary, Wasserman Schultz said affordability would be among her top priorities.
asserted
affordability → say → priorities
"Making life more affordable.
asserted
life → make → ?
I mean, whether it's gas, groceries, utilities, housing, healthcare," Wasserman Schultz said.
asserted
Schultz → mean → ?
Wasserman Schultz's decision to run in District 20 reshaped what was already a crowded Democratic primary.
asserted
what → run → District
Four of her opponents, Campbell, Cherfilus-McCormick, Holness and Manley, discussed an effort to consolidate support behind fewer candidates to avoid splitting the district's Black vote, but no agreement was reached before the qualifying deadline.
asserted
agreement → discuss → deadline
Cherfilus-McCormick was seeking a return to Congress after resigning from the District 20 seat amid a congressional ethics investigation.
asserted
McCormick → seek → investigation
Campbell campaigned on issues including insurance reform, job creation, port expansion and affordable housing.
asserted
Campbell → campaign → reform
Holness emphasized housing affordability, economic growth and education, while Manley focused on economic opportunity, expanded access to healthcare and the housing crisis.
asserted
Manley → emphasize → healthcare
