Former Florida representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has qualified to run for reelection in the state's 20th congressional district despite facing federal embezzlement charges. State election records confirm her status as a qualified candidate.
The Florida Division of Elections lists Cherfilus-McCormick as qualified on its candidate tracking system. She completed the necessary requirements, including payment of the $10,000 filing fee, to appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary.
Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat in April just before a House Ethics Committee vote on possible expulsion. Federal prosecutors in Miami have charged her and her brother Edwin Cherfilus with stealing $5 million in FEMA disaster relief funds and using portions for campaign contributions through intermediaries.
In a statement to NBC 6 South Florida, she said she intends to fight for reelection. "I never shied away from a fight, and my team has always said, ‘We’re ready,’ and we are ready to fight and win," she said. She described the charges as allegations.
Opponent Elijah Manley noted her $4.4 million in campaign debt while questioning the filing fee payment. Four candidates, including Cherfilus-McCormick, discussed consolidating support against Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz but all remained in the race.
