South Florida’s 2026 election cycle is already drawing national attention after Luther Campbell, the rap music executive, First Amendment activist and community coach widely known as Uncle Luke, announced his bid for Congress.
Campbell revealed Sunday during an appearance on WPLG-Channel 10’s “This Week in South Florida” that he will seek the Democratic nomination in Florida’s 20th Congressional District. Speaking with host Glenna Milberg, Campbell said conversations with residents across Broward and Palm Beach counties prompted his decision.
“I’m going to run for Congress in CD 20,” Campbell said.
Criticism of Representation in District 20
Campbell, 65, said voters described the district as underserved and expressed frustration over what they see as limited engagement from their representative.
“What I heard, and what I already know, is it is a very underserved community,” Campbell said. “The representation of the district is not there. People want to be able to engage with their congressperson.”
He added that he would not have entered the race if he believed the current officeholder was meeting constituents’ expectations.
The seat is held by U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted in November on federal charges related to the alleged theft of $5 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Prosecutors claim the funds, tied to an overpayment to her family-owned healthcare company, were used in part to finance her 2021 primary campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
In a written statement responding to Campbell’s announcement, Cherfilus-McCormick defended her record.
“Anyone has the right to run for office. That’s how democracy works,” she said. “But if there are questions about who is doing the job, just ask the constituents. They know who shows up and who fights for them no matter what, in Washington and at home. My record speaks for itself.”
From 2 Live Crew to Congress
Campbell rose to national prominence as the leader of 2 Live Crew and became a central figure in a landmark First Amendment case after a federal judge ruled the group’s 1989 album “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” obscene. The decision was later overturned on appeal. In 1990, Campbell and other group members were arrested on obscenity charges following a performance in Hollywood, Florida, but were acquitted by a Broward County jury.
Addressing his controversial past, Campbell said his history is already well known to voters.
“When people run for office, they write down the 10 things they don’t want people to know about,” he said. “The 10 things I don’t want people to know about, everybody already knows. People know my history. But they also know what I’ve done in the community.”
In addition to his music career, Campbell has been active as a youth football coach and civic commentator in South Florida.
Cross-Party Outreach and Fundraising
Although running as a Democrat, Campbell emphasized his willingness to work across party lines. He argued he would be uniquely positioned to engage high-profile Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“In this race, who’s going to be able to go talk to Marco Rubio? Who’s going to be able to go talk to Donald Trump? Me,” Campbell said. “Nobody else in this race he would respect.”
Campbell also projected strong fundraising capabilities, citing support from artists connected to his role in shaping Southern hip-hop.
“I’m going to have a lot of money,” he said. “Every artist that I produced, and every artist by creating Southern hip-hop, will be donating to this campaign.”
A Crowded Democratic Primary
Florida’s 20th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the state’s most competitive races. Democrats Dale Holness, a former Broward County commissioner, and civic activist Elijah Manley previously announced primary bids. On Sunday, physician, attorney and retired Air Force Col. Dr. Rudolph Moise also entered the race.
“I am running for Congress because I believe deeply in the promise of this country,” Moise said in a statement, citing his experience as a physician, military officer and immigrant.
Two Republicans, Rod Joseph and Sendra Dorce have also declared their candidacies.
Redistricting Could Reshape the Race
The contest could be further complicated by a proposed mid-decade redistricting plan advanced by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers. If approved, the plan could alter the district’s boundaries before the 2026 primary and general elections.
Campbell said local concerns, including job losses in Glades communities tied to automation in the sugar industry, education funding challenges and uncertainty among Haitian residents over potential changes to Temporary Protected Status, underscored the urgency of his campaign.
In January, Campbell stepped down as head football coach at Miami Edison Senior High School, saying he could not balance coaching duties with a congressional run.
With multiple candidates, legal controversies and possible redistricting ahead, Florida’s 20th Congressional District is poised to become one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 election cycle.
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