Indicted Florida Democrat still listed as candidate after resigning House seat

Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her House seat before she could face an expulsion vote for misappropriating pandemic relief funds, but that doesn’t mean her political career is over.

Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick remains listed as an active candidate for Florida’s 20th Congressional District after filing campaign materials April 17 with the state Division of Elections, four days before submitting her resignation.

Her campaign page with the Federal Election Commission, showing she has raised more than $356,000, also remains active, as Florida Politics columnist Jacob Ogles reported.

On top of that, her campaign told news outlet NOTUS that she’s still in the race. The Washington Times has contacted the former congresswoman for comment.

Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing and accused the House Ethics Committee of a “witch hunt” after she was found guilty last month of 25 of 27 violations related to the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

She also pleaded not guilty after she and her brother Edwin Cherfilus were indicted in November for allegedly laundering $5 million through their family healthcare business and then funneling a significant portion of it into her 2022 campaign war chest.

In other words, the circumstances seem far from ideal for a re-election bid.

Elijah Manley, one of his four opponents for the Democratic nomination, said any notion of him winning the Aug. 18 primary was a fantasy.

“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is deluding herself if she thinks FL-20 voters will bring a fraudster back to Washington,” Mr. Manley said in a message published Friday on X. “She resigned in disgrace. The people have not forgotten and will not forget.”

If convicted of the federal charges, Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is deluding herself if she thinks FL-20 voters will bring a fraudster back to Washington. She resigned in disgrace. The people have not forgotten him and will not forget. https://t.co/tRsBPthLFL

– Elijah Manley (@iElijahManley) April 24, 2026

Other Democrats vying for the nomination include Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, founder of the rap group 2 Live Crew; former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness; and Rudolph Moise, former Air Force flight surgeon.

In her statement Tuesday, Cherfilus-McCormick said the House committee’s investigation was “not a fair process” and that she was unable to defend herself against a criminal charge.