Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Cherfilus-McCormick was born in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, to parents from Haiti and raised in the borough of Queens. She moved to Florida at 13 to attend high school.{{cite web|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2021/10/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-hopes-the-third-times-a-charm-in-fl20/|title=Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick hopes the third time's a charm in FL20|date=October 20, 2021|access-date=November 12, 2021|last=Kassel|first=Matthew|website=Jewish Insider}} She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from Howard University and a Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law.{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/politics/government/2020/08/06/lawyer-makes-second-run-at-long-time-incumbent-hastings/42180433/|title=Lawyer makes second run at long-time incumbent Hastings|date=August 6, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2021|last=Washington|first=Wayne|website=The Palm Beach Post}}

After graduating from college, Cherfilus-McCormick served as a project manager for the New York City Transit Authority. From 1999 to 2007, she worked as the vice president for operations of Trinity Health Care Services, a Florida-based family home health care company co-founded by her stepfather, Gabriel Smith. She later served as CEO.{{cite news|url=https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-preps-to-lead-in-d-c/article_6aee34bc-51f8-11ec-b2e6-87352900e56e.html|title=Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick preps to lead in D.C.|last=Knowles|first=Tiffani|date=November 30, 2021|work=Miami Times Online|access-date=January 19, 2022}}

Cherfilus-McCormick is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

On December 27, 2023, the House Ethics Committee announced that it was investigating Cherfilus-McCormick over complaints that she may have violated campaign finance laws, failed to submit required disclosures, and carried out improper hiring practices.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=House Ethics Committee opens inquiry into Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick after campaign finance allegations |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/political/house-ethics-committee-opens-inquiry-into-rep-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-after-campaign-finance-allegation |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick |url=https://ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-chairman-and-ranking-member-committee-ethics-regarding-representative-77 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=House Committee on Ethics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=James |title=House Ethics Committee To Investigate Florida Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick's Ad Spending |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2023/12/27/house-ethics-committee-to-investigate-florida-democrat-cherfilus-mccormicks-ad-spending/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Vazquez |first=Maegan |date=2023-12-27 |title=House ethics panel launches investigation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/27/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-ethics-investigation/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations.

Cherfilus-McCormick ran for Florida's 20th congressional district in the August 28 Democratic primary against incumbent Alcee Hastings in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://haitiantimes.com/2018/08/23/haitian-american-woman-looks-to-unseat-hastings-in-florida-primary/|title=Haitian-American Woman Looks to Unseat Hastings in Florida Primary|date=August 23, 2018|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=The Haitian Times}} She lost, 73.6%–26.4%.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/28/us/elections/florida-primary-elections.html|title=Florida Primary Election Results|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=November 13, 2021|last1=Almukhtar|first1=Sarah|display-authors=et al|website=The New York Times}}

Cherfilus-McCormick challenged Hastings again in 2020. She noted various ethics concerns facing Hastings and his health as reasons for running. She lost the August 18 primary, 69.3%–30.7%.{{cite web|url=https://apps.npr.org/elections20-primaries/states/FL.html|title=Florida Primary Election Results 2020|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=NPR}}

{{see also|2022 Florida's 20th congressional district special election}}

After Hastings died on April 6, 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick ran again in the 20th district in the 2022 special election.{{Cite web|last=Putney|first=Michael|date=October 29, 2021|title=She's running for Congress, but are her ads misleading?|url=https://www.local10.com/news/politics/2021/10/29/shes-running-for-congress-but-are-her-ads-misleading/|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=WPLG|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Wealthy candidate pumps staggering $2.3 million of her own money into Florida special election|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wealthy-candidate-pumps-staggering-2-110000713.html|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=www.yahoo.com|date=August 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Fineout|first=Gary|title='Powerball politics': Democrats worry DeSantis is unbeatable|url=https://politi.co/3EAvQep|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=Politico|date=November 2021 |language=en}} During the campaign, she loaned $3.7 million to her campaign organization.{{Cite web|last=Morse|first=Hannah|title="They Deserve to Be Safe": Candidates Call on Florida to Investigate the Health Effects of Sugar Cane Burning|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/they-deserve-to-be-safe-candidates-call-on-florida-to-investigate-the-health-effects-of-sugar-cane-burning?token=dkdZI8lwnnI3iLhI33JcY2hGP8v7tV8q|access-date=November 6, 2021|website=ProPublica|date=October 29, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2021|title=Health CEO leads after recount in Florida congressional race|url=https://apnews.com/article/congress-alcee-hastings-florida-fort-lauderdale-election-recounts-9a1d761dbdfad759df240d5ff0a569a3|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=AP News|language=en}} She campaigned on progressive policies such as a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and a $1,000-a-month universal basic income. Her campaign was supported by Brand New Congress, a progressive organization that also backed candidates such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.{{Cite web|last1=LeBlancJune 11|first1=Rhonda Veerasawmy|last2=Pm|first2=2021 at 3:03|date=June 11, 2021|title=Brand New Congress endorses Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in CD 20 Special Election|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/435211-brand-new-congress-backs-cherfilus-mccormick/|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US}}

After a recount, Cherfilus-McCormick was declared the winner of the Democratic primary by five votes over Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness in an upset. She easily defeated Republican Jason Mariner in the January 11, 2022, general election.{{Cite web|last=Kihara|first=David|title=Cherfilus-McCormick apparent winner in Florida Democratic primary for Hastings' seat|url=https://politi.co/3wF3LA1|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=Politico PRO|date=November 12, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|author=Steve Contorno|title=Businesswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is apparent winner of Florida primary for late Alcee Hastings' seat|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/politics/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-florida-congressional-primary-alcee-hastings-seat/index.html|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=CNN|date=November 13, 2021 }} She is the only Haitian-American Democrat ever elected to Congress and only the second overall, after Republican Mia Love of Utah.{{cite web|url=https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-11-03/south-florida-could-soon-have-its-first-haitian-american-congress-member-but-first-a-recount|title=South Florida could soon have its first Haitian or Jamaican-American Congress member. But first, a recount|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=November 13, 2021|last1=Rivero|first1=Daniel|last2=Brutus|first2=Wilkine|last3=Switalski Muñnoz|first3=Caitie|website=WLRN-FM}}

Following her narrow margin of victory in the special election, Cherfilus-McCormick was again challenged by Holness for the regular election.{{Cite web |title=Holness launches campaign to oust Cherfilus-McCormick in congressional rematch |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-dale-holness-cherfilus-mccormick-rematch-20220326-xgtkngmsrbfjxhef7khiepnrgi-story.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Sun Sentinel|date=March 26, 2022 }} Cherfilus-McCormick handily defeated Holness in the August Democratic primary, 66%-27% with another 6% going to Anika Omphroy.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title=Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick wins Democratic nomination for Congress |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/political/elections-local/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-congressional-seat-8-23-22 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}} Cherfilus-McCormick defeated Republican nominee Drew Montez-Clark with 72% of the vote during the November election, and she started her first full term in Congress on January 3, 2023.

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/C001127 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=4 May 2023}}

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Subcommittee on Africa
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Subcommittee on Technology Modernization (Ranking Member)

• Congressional Black Caucus{{Cite web|last=Lowry|first=Bryan|date=January 19, 2022|title=Cherfilus-McCormick, first Haitian American from Florida, officially joins Congress|url=https://www.wlrn.org/local-news/2022-01-19/cherfilus-mccormick-first-haitian-american-from-florida-officially-joins-congress|access-date=January 20, 2022|website=WLRN|language=en-US}}
• Congressional Progressive Caucus{{Cite web|date=April 14, 2022|title=CAUCUS MEMBERS|url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members|access-date=April 14, 2022|website=|language=en-US}}
• Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus{{Cite web|date=July 17, 2022|title=CONGRESSIONAL LGBTQ+ EQUALITY CAUCUS MEMBERS|url=https://lgbtq.house.gov/members|accessdate=July 17, 2022}}{{Cite web|last1=Ogles|first1=Jacob|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/537948-florida-lgbtq-caucus-lineup-includes-charlie-crist-val-demings-and-nikki-fried/|title=Florida LGBTQ caucus lineup includes Charlie Crist, Val Demings, Nikki Fried|date=July 11, 2022|accessdate=July 17, 2022}}
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=28 March 2025}}

Cherfilus-McCormick voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.{{Cite web |last1=Bycoffe |first1=Aaron |last2=Wiederkehr |first2=Anna |date=2021-04-22 |title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210522014239/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en}} Cherfilus-McCormick voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}

Cherfilus-McCormick married lawyer Corlie McCormick in 2017 and lives in Miramar, Florida. They have two children together.

Cherfilus-McCormick is Protestant.{{cite web |title=Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/12/PF_2023.01.03_congress_LIST.pdf |website=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316090407/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/12/PF_2023.01.03_congress_LIST.pdf |archive-date=2023-03-16 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=6 March 2023}}

In January 2025, the state of Florida filed a $5 million lawsuit against Cherfilus-McCormick's South Florida-based Trinity Health Care Services business for knowingly accepting overpayments of invoices for work that was not actually performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news | last=Goñi-Lessan | first=Ana | title=Florida files COVID-19 related suit after accidentally overpaying company $5 million | date=January 8, 2025 | url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/01/08/florida-lawsuit-overpayment-covid-trinity-health-care-services/77508722007/ | work=tallahassee.com }} It is alleged that she used this money to fund her congressional campaign. Between 2020 and 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick gained over $6 million dollars in wealth, millions of which she loaned to her campaign. She had previously only spent tens of thousands on her campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick had previously been referred to the United States House Committee on Ethics in 2023 after finding "substantial reason" to believe that she had violated campaign finance laws. As of January 2025, the Ethics Committee was still investigating the matter.{{Cite news |last=Alemany |first=Jacqueline |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Ethics worries grow for Florida Democrat as state sues over $5 million covid payment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/14/florida-covid-overpayment-cherfilus-mccormick/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |newspaper=Washington Post}}

;2018

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2018 Florida's 20th congressional district Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=8/28/2018&DATAMODE=|title=August 28, 2018 Primary Election Official Results|website=Florida Secretary of State|access-date=November 12, 2020}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Alcee Hastings (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 52,628

| percentage = 73.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 18,697

| percentage = 26.2

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 71,325

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2020

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2020 Florida's 20th congressional district Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=8/18/2020&DATAMODE=|title=August 18, 2020 Primary Election Official Results|website=Florida Secretary of State|access-date=November 12, 2020}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Alcee Hastings (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 62,759

| percentage = 69.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 27,831

| percentage = 30.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 90,590

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2022

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 Florida's 20th congressional district special Democratic primary results{{cite web |title=2021 Florida Special Primary Election Results: 20th Congressional District |work=NBC News|date=November 3, 2021 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2021-primary-elections/florida-house-results}}{{Cite web|last=Greenwood|first=Max|date=November 16, 2021|title=Florida officials certify 5-vote victory in primary for Alcee Hastings' seat|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/581752-florida-officials-certify-winner-in-primary-for-alcee-hastings-seat-after-5|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=The Hill|language=en}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 11,662

| percentage = 23.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Dale Holness

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 11,657

| percentage = 23.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Barbara Sharief

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 8,680

| percentage = 17.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Perry E. Thurston Jr.

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 7,282

| percentage = 14.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bobby DuBose

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 3,458

| percentage = 7.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Omari Hardy

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 2,902

| percentage = 5.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Priscilla Taylor

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,677

| percentage = 3.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Elvin Dowling

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 646

| percentage = 1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Emmanuel Morel

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 454

| percentage = 0.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Phil Jackson

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 342

| percentage = 0.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Imran Siddiqui

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 316

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 49,074

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 Florida's 20th congressional district special election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 44,707

| percentage = 79.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jason Mariner

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 10,966

| percentage = 19.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mike ter Maat

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 395

| percentage = 0.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jim Flynn

| party = Independent politician

| votes = 265

| percentage = 0.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Lenny Serratore

| party = Independent politician

| votes = 262

| percentage = 0.5

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 56,595

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 Florida's 20th congressional district Democratic primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 47,601

| percentage = 65.6

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Dale Holness|votes=20,783|percentage=28.6}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Anika Omphroy|votes=4,197|percentage=5.8}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 72,581

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 Florida's 20th congressional district election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 136,215

| percentage = 72.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Drew Montez Clark

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 52,151

| percentage = 27.6

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 188,366

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2024

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2024 Florida's 20th congressional district election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = unopposed

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = N/A

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/ Representative Cherfilus-McCormick] official U.S. House website
• [https://www.sheilafordistrict20.com/ Campaign website]
• {{C-SPAN|132704}}

{{CongLinks|votesmart=182285|fec=H8FL20032|congbio=C001127|congress=sheila-cherfilus-mccormick/C001127}}

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{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=294th}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Flood}}

{{s-end}}

{{Current members of the U.S. House of Representatives}}

{{U.S. Florida Representatives}}

{{FL-FedRep}}

{{USCongRep-start |congresses=117th–present United States Congresses |state=Florida}}

{{USCongRep/FL/117}}

{{USCongRep/FL/118}}

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{{USCongRep-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila}}

Category:1979 births

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