Few Challengers to Area Incumbents as Qualifying Deadline Looms

by Kevin Deutsch May 2, 2024

by Kevin Deutsch May 2, 2024 417 views

Few Challengers to Area Incumbents as Qualifying Deadline Looms

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Dan Daley, Rep Christine Hunschofsky, County Commissioner Michael Udine, and Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott.

With a June qualifying deadline looming, elected officials in Talk Media’s coverage areas have drawn few challengers for the November election, records show.

According to the Florida Division of Elections, the qualifying deadline for U.S. Congress races was April 26. The qualifying period for the remaining races detailed below is June 10 to June 14, 2024.

U.S. Congress

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick automatically won reelection in Florida’s 20th Congressional District Friday after several potential challengers failed to qualify ahead of the April 26 deadline. The congresswoman’s district includes Tamarac, Lauderhill, and Lauderdale Lakes.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz is among the few local incumbents whose reelection race has drawn multiple candidates.

According to campaign finance records, the popular congressman raised an additional $474,000 for his reelection campaign during this year’s first fundraising quarter (Q1). His campaign had total receipts of more than $1.2 million.

Eight Republican candidates have filed to run in the August GOP Primary for a chance to challenge Moskovitz in November’s race for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District, which covers Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Tamarac, Oakland Park, and Fort Lauderdale.

The GOP entrants are Robert Weinroth ($223,000 raised in Q1), Carla Spalding ($76,500 in Q1), Joe Kaufman ($37,500 in Q1), Steven Chess ($20,000 in Q1), Joe Thelusca ($16,600 in Q1), Darlene Swaffer ($13,000 in Q1), Gary Barve ($275 in Q1), and Rafael Ortiz, who had not filed a fundraising report. Mark Piper, a Democrat who filed to run, also does not show any fundraising in the Federal Election Commission database.

Florida Legislature

Records show that Democratic Rep. Dan Daley, whose district includes parts of Coral Springs and Tamarac, raised $9,000 in the first quarter. No challengers have filed to run against him.

Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, whose district includes Parkland, Coconut Creek, Margate, and parts of Coral Springs, raised $6,000 in the first quarter, records show. No challengers have filed to run against her.

Broward County Commission

Democratic Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine (District 3), who represents parts of Coral Springs, North Lauderdale, Parkland, and Tamarac, has raised $121,300 for his reelection campaign. No challengers have filed to run against him.

Broward Supervisor of Elections

Democratic Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, a Parkland resident, has raised $14,375 for his reelection campaign, records show. Democrat Russell Bathulia, who has filed to run against Scott, does not show any fundraising in the Federal Election Commission database. The supervisor of elections position is county-wide.

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Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.