Overview:
Six Haitian and Haitian American candidates are working in contested Florida primaries on Aug. 18, together with races for governor and U.S. Home districts 20 and 24.
Florida voters head to the polls Tuesday for a major election that includes a minimum of six Haitian and Haitian American candidates looking for congressional and statewide workplace.
The candidates span each main political events and embody two candidates for governor and 4 looking for seats in Congress. A number of are working in South Florida districts that embody a few of the state’s largest Haitian communities.
Florida is a closed-primary state, that means voters typically could vote solely within the major of the political get together with which they’re registered. The candidates and races that seem on a voter’s poll additionally rely on the place that voter lives.
Listed here are six Haitian candidates on Florida’s Aug. 18 major poll.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick — Democratic major, U.S. Home District 20
Former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is looking for a return to Congress in a crowded Democratic major for Florida’s twentieth Congressional District.
Cherfilus-McCormick turned the primary Haitian American Democrat elected to Congress after successful a particular election to the seat in 2022. She represented the district till April 2026, when she resigned shortly earlier than a Home Ethics Committee listening to associated to allegations that she misused federal catastrophe aid funds.
Federal prosecutors indicted Cherfilus-McCormick in November 2015 over allegations that she laundered $5 million in COVID-19 aid funds into her marketing campaign. She has denied wrongdoing.
Within the Democratic major, Cherfilus-McCormick is competing in opposition to longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell — the 2Live Crew rapper recognized for such get together anthems as “Doo Doo Brown” — and instructor and activist Elijah Manley.
The newly drawn District 20 is situated totally inside Broward County and consists of predominantly Black communities in central and western Broward.
Rod Joseph — Republican major, U.S. Home District 20
Rod Joseph, a U.S. Military veteran, is looking for the Republican nomination in District 20.
His marketing campaign biography highlights his navy service, together with his standing as a Purple Coronary heart recipient. Joseph says immigration, veterans’ advantages, schooling and financial alternative are amongst his priorities.
He’s competing in opposition to Brent Andersen, Lateresa “LA” Jones and Carla Spalding within the Republican major.
Jean Monestime — Democratic major, U.S. Home District 24
Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime is considered one of seven Democrats looking for to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson in District 24.
Monestime turned the primary Haitian American elected to the Miami-Dade County Fee and later the primary Haitian American to chair it. He represented North Miami-Dade for greater than a decade.
Monestime has emphasised affordability, immigration and U.S. relations with Haiti and different Caribbean nations throughout his congressional marketing campaign.
District 24 consists of Miami Gardens, Opa-locka, North Miami, Little Haiti, Brownsville, West Park, Pembroke Park and parts of Miramar and Miami.
Rudolph Moise — Democratic major, U.S. Home District 24
Doctor Rudolph Moise can be looking for the Democratic nomination in District 24.
Moise has beforehand run for the congressional seat twice. He’s the founding president of Complete Well being Middle and has spent a long time working in South Florida.
He joins Monestime, Miami-Dade County Fee Chairman Oliver Gilbert III, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, legal professional Kendrick Meek Jr., neighborhood arts chief Marshall Davis Sr. and legal professional Roderick Vereen within the Democratic major.
The race marks a significant transition for District 24 after Wilson determined to not search reelection. The district stays closely Democratic, making the Aug. 18 major notably consequential in figuring out who might signify communities that embody Little Haiti, North Miami and Miami Gardens.
Dotie Joseph — Democratic major, Florida governor
State Rep. Dotie Joseph is looking for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Joseph was born in Haiti and moved to Florida as a toddler. She represents Florida House District 108 and has served within the Legislature since 2018. Her background consists of work as a civil rights and authorities legal professional, and he or she beforehand served as president of the Haitian Attorneys Affiliation.
Joseph is competing in opposition to David Jolly, Evelyn Castillo-Bach, Thomas Eloy Fernandez, Dayna Marie Foster and Stephann Norman for the Democratic nomination.
Her marketing campaign has targeted on affordability, wages, well being care and schooling. She has stated she desires to extend pay for state staff and deal with Florida’s housing prices.
Caneste Succe — Republican major, Florida governor
Caneste Succe is looking for the Republican nomination for governor in an 11-candidate area.
Succe was born in Haiti and moved to Lantana at 18, in line with his marketing campaign biography. His background consists of work as an plane mechanic, service in corrections with the Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace and employment with the Palm Seashore County Supervisor of Elections workplace.
His marketing campaign platform emphasizes decreasing the price of residing and insurance coverage, strengthening Florida’s economic system, bettering schooling, supporting agriculture and rising public security.
Succe faces a Republican area that features U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former Florida Home Speaker Paul Renner, businessman James Fishback and 6 others. Florida election officers checklist Succe as a certified Republican candidate for governor.
Polls open Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7:00 a.m. and shut at 7:00 p.m. for Florida’s 2026 major election.