Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins Florida House seat

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is projected to defeat Republican Brent Andersen in the race to represent Florida’s 20th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Wasserman Schultz led Andersen by 60 percentage points — 78 percent to 18 percent — with 69 percent of the votes counted, according to DDHQ .

The seat had been previously represented by former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) for four years before she resigned in April. The district is home to a large Black voting population.

Wasserman Schultz’s bid for the seat came after GOP-led redistricting efforts in the state reshaped her current 25th District, making it far more favorable for Republicans.

Wasserman Schultz has served in Congress for almost two decades, representing Florida’s 20th District from 2005 to 2013, Florida’s 23rd District from 2013 to 2023 and Florida’s 25th District from 2023 to present day.

When she ran in the Democratic primary, Black Democrats had pushed back against her bid, arguing that her move not only disregards the district’s unique history and undermines opportunities for Black political representation, but is also a slight to Black voters.

But Wasserman Schultz had defended her decision to run, pointing to her years of experience and leadership roles in Congress.

“I know how to stand up for, fight for and represent diverse communities, and the feedback that I’m getting all across Congressional District 20 has been enthusiastic and supportive, because they know this is a community — this is a district that knows me. I’ve represented nine of the 14 cities in this district. They know me, and I know them, and they know that they want someone who has the seasoning, the experience,” she told NBC News’s Kristen Welker in late May.

She ended up defeating Cherfilus-McCormick, who ran for the seat again, in the August primary.