Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz staved off a challenge from Sanders-backed political outsider Tim Canova on Tuesday, holding on to her seat in Florida’s 23rd congressional district, according to major news outlets.
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Wasserman Schultz received campaign visits and donations from her House Democratic colleagues, as well as from Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Wasserman Schultz was also unceremoniously shown the door as chair of the Democratic National Committee last month- just one day before the party’s national convention gaveled into session in Philadelphia- over leaked e-mails which showed her favor for Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party’s presidential primary. Ms. Wasserman Schultz was sidelined as the party’s leader in the wake of hacked Democratic National Committee emails that.
Canova, 56, has raised $3.3 million, according to his filings with the Federal Elections Commission, an nearly unheard of amount for a first-time candidate and primary challenger.
Canova had raised over $3.3 million in his bid to best the embattled incumbent over the course of the primary. Marco Rubio and Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy won their respective Florida Senate primaries – setting up a high-profile November contest that will help determine whether Democrats can retake control of the Senate.
With almost all the votes counted, Wasserman Schultz leads Canova by double digits, 57 to 43 percent.
In Wasserman Schultz’s previous elections, she never drew a primary opponent in her suburban Fort Lauderdale district or a serious Republican challenge.
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The newspaper projected that Wasserman Schultz defeated Tim Canova, a law professor who is an outspoken Wall Street critic.
