Cherfilus-McCormick, Jared Moskowitz, Joe Budd declared winners; 2nd GOP primary too close to call

An incumbent and rising newcomer, both Democrats, unofficially won the chance to keep two Palm Beach County congressional seats blue. And a Republican who aspires to flip a longtime Democratic seat to the GOP in hopes of joining a potential  majority in the U.S. House was declared the winner in his race.

But a fourth race with Palm Beach County implications, the Republican primary for House District 22, remained too close to call with 99% of the votes counted.

Last year, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick beat a crowded Democratic field by a razor-thin five votes in route to finishing out the late Alcee Hastings term in House District 20. On Tuesday night, Cherfilus-McCormick was declared the Democratic winner over opponents Dale Holness and Anika Omphroy in her bid for a full term in the seat.

In House District 23, Jared Moskowitz was declared the winner in the Democratic contest to replace retiring incumbent Congressman Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat. He will likely face Republican Joe Budd in the November general election.

Cherfilus-McCormick, 43, would now face GOP rival Drew Montez Clark, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. But the Republican is up against a notably blue district. In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden held about 75% of the district's support while Donald Trump had about 23% of its support.

In 2020, the late Alcee Hastings crushed GOP opponent Greg Musselwhite by winning 78% of the vote. Cherfilus-McCormick is a home health care business owner and attorney who twice unsuccessfully challenged Hastings in primaries.

Moskowitz, 41, is a Broward County commissioner. He served in the Florida House from 2012 to 2019. Three years ago, he resigned his statehouse seat to become director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

He was part of the Parkland city commission in 2006 up until he resigned to run for the Florida Legislature in 2012.

In a statement Tuesday night, Moskowitz said "voters responded to our positive messages and policy ideas never attacking our Democratic opponents."

He added: "Together, we can and will win this race in order to continue fighting for our Democratic values, working together on common sense solutions, and building upon our many hard-earned achievements in Washington.”

Joe Budd wins GOP nod in District 23, but another primary too close to call

Moskowitz's Republican opponent could be Boca Raton resident Joe Budd. He was declared the winner in a crowded field of six rivals at 9 p.m.

Budd had 37.6% of the vote with 90.13% of the ballots counted.

His closest competitor was 2020 GOP congressional nominee James Pruden, who stood in distant second place with 22.1%.

Budd is a Palm Beach County Republican state committeeman and the president and founder of Club 45, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting former President Trump's agenda.

In another congressional race in Palm Beach County, Dan Franzese continued to hold a slight lead over Deborah Adeimy, 34.7% to 34.2%, in the Republican primary in House District 22. That is with 99% of votes counted as of Wednesday morning.

The winner will face incumbent Democrat Lois Frankel, who ran unopposed on Tuesday.

The District 22 GOP contest was one of a pair of too-close-to-call U.S. House primaries in Florida late Tuesday night. The other was the Democratic primary in District 4, which is in the Jacksonville area.

There, LaShonda Holloway led Anthony Hill, 50.2% to 49.8%, with 98.22% of the votes counted.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

About Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)

Age and residence:  43, Miramar.

Top campaign priorities: One of Cherfilus-McCormick's top campaign priorities include tackling the housing crisis by providing funding for rental and mortgage assistance and through increasing affordable housing. She also wants to focus on reducing inflation, fighting to end health care disparities by pushing universal health care, defending reproductive and voting rights and creating economic opportunities for workers and small business owners in the district.

Professional history: Between 2010 and 2022, Cherfilus-McCormick was the chief executive officer of Trinity Health Care Services. She stepped down once elected to Congress.

Political background: Prior to taking congressional office, Cherfilus-McCormick was part of the Advisory Board of Broward County Public Schools, and she was the board leadership director for the Haitian Chamber of Commerce.

Education: Cherfilus-McCormick received a bachelor of arts in political science from Howard University. She went to graduate school at University of Maryland University College for her master's in business administration. She went to law school at St. Thomas University's School of Law.

Criminal history: None.

Endorsements: Cherfilus-McCormick is endorsed by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, state Sen. Bobby Powell, Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James, Royal Palm Beach Mayor Fred Pinto, Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder, Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Chelsea Reed, Belle Glade Mayor Steve Wilson, former Westlake Vice Mayor Katina Long Robinson and Palm Beach County School District Board Member Marcia Andrews.

Finances: Cherfilus-McCormick had total receipts of $7.5 million as of July 18, with about $313,000 in contributions, $7.2 million in loans and more than $6,700 in other receipts. Most of the finances credited to Cherfilus-McCormick herself and ActBlue, which is a nonprofit technology organization to help Democratic candidates with online fundraising.

About Jared Moskowitz (D)

Age and residence: 41, Parkland

Top campaign priorities: Moskowitz said his top priority is to "defend our democracy, because if we fail to do so, no other priority is possible." Moskowitz emphasized passing additional gun violence prevention laws, codifying reproductive rights into federal law, protecting Social Security and Medicare, expanding affordable healthcare, safeguarding the environment and ensuring the community is ready for the potential of another pandemic or public health emergency.

Professional history: Moskowitz is currently the manager of MOD, LLC, a consulting firm, since May 2021. He was a general counsel for AshBritt, Inc. from 2009 to 2019.

Political background: Moskowitz is currently a Broward County commissioner. He was a Florida state representative from 2012 to 2019, until he resigned and took the position as the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He was part of the Parkland city commission in 2006 up until he resigned to run for the Florida Legislature in 2012.

Education: Moskowitz received a bachelor's of arts in political science from George Washington University and his juris doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Criminal history: None.

Endorsements: Moskowitz has garnered about 120 endorsements, including from former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala, Florida AFL-CIO, the Broward Teachers Union, SEIU Florida,

Finances: Moskowitz's total campaign contributions are more than $1.1 million, including contributions above $855,000 and loans totaling $250,000. A large amount of the contributions come through ActBlue, a nonprofit technology organization to help Democrats with online fundraising.

About Joe Budd (R)

Age and residence: 59, Boca Raton.

Top campaign priorities: Budd highlighted his belief in returning to energy independence to "solve much of the economic woes caused by the policies of the Democrat Party." He suggested drilling in Anwar, in northern Alaska, finishing and opening the Keystone XL pipeline, opening more federal lands for oil and gas leases, and stopping the "silliness of the EPA and environmentalist overreach."

Professional history: Budd has owned a business, Health and Wealth Partners, since 2015. He also has been a registered representative for Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation since 1993.

Political background: Budd is the president and founder of Club 45, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting Trump's agenda. He is currently the Palm Beach County Republican state committeeman.

Education: Budd's highest education is a high school diploma.

Criminal history: None.

Endorsements: Budd is endorsed by Florida Family Action, the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, former congressman Allen West and Andrew Pollack, the father of Parkland student Meadow Pollack who died in a mass shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Finances: Budd's contribution receipts total more than $103,000, with about $54,000 in individual contributions and $49,500 in loans.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jared Moskowitz appear to win Dem primaries