Progressives back substitute teacher over Wasserman Schultz in Florida

Group backs Elijah Manley in primary election in bid to unseat veteran Democrat in newly drawn district

A progressive group has endorsed a 27-year-old substitute teacher who overcame childhood homelessness in his bid to unseat the veteran Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) said it was backing Elijah Manley in next week’s primary election in Florida’s newly drawn 20th congressional district, casting the race as a contest between a young economic populist and a stalwart of the Democratic party establishment.

Wasserman Schultz, 59, an 11-term congresswoman and former chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), has faced criticism from African American leaders over her decision to run as the sole white candidate in a majority-minority district where she is not a resident.

This followed the creation of gerrymandered congressional maps by Florida Republicans that broke Wasserman Schultz’s current seat into five shards. She decided against running in the 22nd district, where she lives, and chose instead to compete in the deep blue 20th, which has been represented by Black Democrats for more than 30 years.

Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black caucus, told the Politico website on Friday : “It’s a painful situation. To have a beloved colleague who made a decision basically to run in a district where historically there’s been CBC representation, and I know that the community has been really disrupted by it.”

Other candidates in the primary include former congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned in April over allegations of misusing $5m in federal funds, which she denies; former Broward County mayor Dale Holness; and community activist Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell , a rapper best known for his role in 2 Live Crew.

Manley, who is Black, grew up homeless in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk neighbourhood. He is campaigning on universal healthcare, a federal jobs guarantee and a pledge to build “an economy where workers have rights, working families can thrive, and the wealthy pay their fair share”.

Stephanie Taylor, a co-founder of the PCCC, said: “Elijah Manley isn’t just talking about the fight for working people – he’s lived it. He’s running a campaign built on Medicare for All, good jobs, and an economy that finally works for the people, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents the Democratic establishment. Voters are ready for young new fighters like Elijah.”

A May poll by the Listener Group suggested that Manley could pose a serious challenge to Wasserman Schultz. In an initial head-to-head matchup, she led 39% to 21%. But after voters were given basic biographical information about the candidates, Manley moved ahead, 36% to 27%, according to the poll cited by the PCCC.

Manley welcomed the endorsement, saying the group had been “on the frontlines of every major fight for working people” for more than a decade. “I’m honoured to earn their endorsement,” he said. “Together, we’re going to fight for the working families of South Florida and build an economy that works for everyone.”

Wasserman Schultz, who has been a member of Congress since 2005, has long been a divisive figure for Democrats. She was forced to resign as DNC chair after criticism from supporters of the progressive senator Bernie Sanders when leaked emails suggested a bias in favour of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary election.

Manley tweeted in May : “Debbie Wasserman Schultz is carpetbagging to FL-20, a black opportunity district instead of running in her own. DWS is everything that’s wrong with the Democratic establishment. From insider trading to payday lenders. I look forward to retiring her from public office permanently.”

The PCCC is also backing Oliver Larkin , a democratic socialist organiser and union strategist challenging the Democrat Jared Moskowitz in Florida’s newly drawn 25th congressional district.

The PCCC said its endorsed candidates who have already won primaries this cycle include Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota’s Senate race, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate contest, James Talarico in Texas’s Senate election and Brad Lander in New York’s 10th congressional district.