U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings was a fixture representing South Florida in Congress for decades, until his death last week following a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Elected to 15 terms, he represented a sprawling district that runs from Miramar up to West Palm Beach and Lake Okeechobee.
The race to succeed him for the District 20 seat has already been making waves in Broward County politics.
SA国际传谋 is here for you, even when life is unpredictable. Local journalists are working hard to keep you informed on the latest developments across South Florida. Please support this vital work. Thank you.
County Commissioner Dale Holness planned to announce his campaign on May 1, but launched early after Hastings died on April 6. Holness, who also served as county mayor, received public support from Hastings' son at his announcement event Monday, and claims the late congressman endorsed him before his death.
"I certainly believe that I'll be the person that will carry on his legacy and certainly the congressman knew that," Holness told SA国际传谋 this week.
Holness' fellow county commissioner, also a two-time former mayor 鈥� and candidate in the race 鈥� Barbara Sharief, disagrees.
"He spoke for himself and he was very clear, he did not endorse anybody," Sharief said.
Florida law means both of them will have to give up their seat on the Broward County commission. The State's means any candidate running for the congressional seat will have to give up their local office, so their terms don't overlap. The losing candidate can't revoke their resignation.
With Holness and Sharief in the running, that means Gov. Ron DeSantis will get the chance to appoint two of his own picks to the nine member Broward County commission until the next election. All current commissioners are Democrats.
"We will see a difference in the makeup, certainly," Holness said.
"I just don't see where that's going to make a huge difference," Sharief told SA国际传谋, citing the number of Democrats outnumbering anyone DeSantis could possibly pick.
Hastings鈥� 2020 challenger, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, has already filed paperwork to run again.
Many other local elected officials are rumored to join what鈥檚 shaping up to be a crowded race but not Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones. he will not pursue Hastings' now-vacated seat.
While I鈥檓 incredibly appreciative of the many people who鈥檝e encouraged me to run in , I鈥檝e decided not to pursue Rep. Hastings鈥� seat in Congress. It鈥檚 clear that there is A LOT of work to do here in Florida, especially after the 2020 election, (1/2)
— Shevrin 鈥淪hev鈥� Jones (@ShevrinJones)
