Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her House seat before she could face an expulsion vote for misappropriating pandemic relief funding, 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 paperwork April 17 with the state’s Division of Elections, four days before she submitted her resignation.
Her Federal Election Commission campaign page, showing she has raised more than $356,000, also remains active, as flagged by Florida Politics columnist Jacob Ogles.
On top of that, her campaign told the NOTUS news outlet that she’s still in the race. The Washington Times has reached out to the former congresswoman for comment.
Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing and accused the House Ethics Committee of a “witch hunt” after being found guilty last month of 25 out of 27 violations related to embezzling millions 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-run health business, then routing a significant chunk to her 2022 campaign war chest.
In other words, the circumstances would seem less than ideal for a reelection bid.
Elijah Manley, one of her four opponents for the Democratic nomination, said any thoughts of her winning the Aug. 18 primary are fantasy.
“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is delusional if she thinks the voters of FL-20 will return a fraudster to Washington,” Mr. Manley said in a Friday post on X. “She resigned in disgrace. The people did not and will not forget.”
If convicted on the federal charges, Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is delusional if she thinks the voters of FL-20 will return a fraudster to Washington. She resigned in disgrace. The people did not and will not forget. https://t.co/tRsBPthLFL
— Elijah Manley (@iElijahManley) April 24, 2026
Other Democrats running for the nomination include Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, a founder of the rap group 2 Live Crew; former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness; and Rudolph Moise, a former flight surgeon in the Air Force.
In her Tuesday statement, Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick said the House committee’s investigation was “not a fair process” and that she was unable to defend herself while facing a criminal indictment.
“Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th District. I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately,” she said.
