When Debbie Wasserman Schultz entered this race, the political establishment assumed the conversation was over. They assumed decades in Washington insider connections, and a massive fundraising network would clear the field. They assumed voters in Florida’s 20th Congressional District would simply accept a candidate who chose to run here after spending years representing a different district. Instead, something else happened.
The people of this district started paying attention.
This week, a new public poll showed our campaign continuing to gain ground and closing the gap in what many thought would be a one-sided race. As voters learn more about who I am, where I come from, and what this campaign stands for, support continues to grow. The race that establishment insiders expected to be a coronation is becoming a real contest. And that’s because our message is resonating with voters who are ready for a new generation of leadership.
At the same time, our campaign received a major endorsement from Armando Grundy-Gomes, President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida, alongside progressive leaders from across the state, including Matthew Grocholske, President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida (The caucus has endorsed me as well), and Jamil Davis from Black Voters Matter. Their support reflects what we’ve been hearing for months from community leaders, activists, elected officials, and everyday voters: Florida’s 20th Congressional District deserves leadership rooted in the communities it serves and committed to its future.
The momentum is not just showing up in polls and endorsements. It is showing up in the media coverage surrounding this race. Over the past several months, our campaign has been featured by CNN, CBS News, Axios, The Washington Post, the Miami Herald, WLRN, Florida Politics, and numerous other local and national outlets. What started as a grassroots campaign powered by over 20,000 small-dollar donors and volunteers has become one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country.
That attention isn’t happening because of me. It’s happening because this campaign has become part of a much larger conversation about representation, political power, and the future of the Democratic Party. For more than thirty years, Florida’s 20th Congressional District has been represented by Black members of Congress. It was created under the Voting Rights Act to ensure Black voters had the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. Across this district, voters understand the significance of that history and the responsibility we have to protect it.
But this campaign is about more than preserving the past. It is about building the future. It is about whether working families can afford housing, healthcare, and childcare. It is about whether young people can build a life without crushing debt. It is about whether Congress will continue serving lobbyists and special interests or start serving the people who sent them there. And it is about whether our generation is willing to step forward and lead at a moment when so many Americans have lost faith in our political system.
As a substitute teacher, I see the challenges families face every day. As someone who grew up experiencing homelessness after my family lost everything in the financial crisis, I understand what it means to be locked out of opportunity. That experience is what drives this campaign and why so many people have joined this movement. The truth is that we are entering a new phase of this race.
We have built the coalition. We have earned the attention. We have proven that this campaign belongs in the conversation. Now we have to convert that momentum into victory.
The political establishment is beginning to realize that this race is competitive, and they will spend whatever it takes to protect one of their own. We should expect more attacks, more outside spending, and more efforts to convince voters that change is impossible. Our job is to prove them wrong. Every contribution helps us reach more voters, expand our organizing operation, build our field program, and continue telling our story across South Florida. Every dollar helps us compete against a political machine that has spent decades accumulating power.
The momentum is real. The coalition is growing. The path to victory is becoming clearer every day. Now we need the resources to finish the job. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to invest in this campaign, this is it.
Let’s build the future together.
— Elijah Manley
Candidate for Congress, FL-20
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