Politics

Indicted Democrat Touts Pelosi’s Support In Reelection Bid — But She Hasn’t Endorsed Her In Years

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Screenshot/CSPAN)

Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who is facing decades in prison for allegedly stealing $5 million in disaster relief funds to finance her previous run, is falsely claiming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorses her reelection bid.

The Florida Democrat’s campaign website touts an endorsement from Pelosi, 85, who continues to hold considerable sway among Democrats despite plans to retire from Congress in January 2027. A source familiar with the endorsement told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Pelosi has not issued public support for Cherfilus-McCormick in years.

“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in her time in Congress, has been masterful at bringing people together, here in D.C. and her District, by working on big problems and staying focused on shared values,” Pelosi says in a statement on Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign website. “It is my honor and privilege to support Sheila – a strong lifelong Democrat, colleague and friend – for re-election as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 20th Congressional District.”

Pelosi released that statement in July 2022, according to a press release reviewed by the DCNF. At the time, Cherfilus-McCormick was running for a full term after winning a Democratic special election primary in November 2021 by just five votes. The Florida Democrat would go on to win the 2022 general election in a romp over her Republican opponent.

Federal prosecutors allege Cherfilus-McCormick’s special election campaign and 2022 reelection was partially bankrolled by more than $5.7 million in FEMA overpayments the Florida state government gave to her family’s company, Trinity Health Care Services. Rather than return the money, the Florida Democrat used a “substantial portion” to support her congressional run in addition to splurging on “luxury personal items,” according to the federal indictment.

A spokesperson for Cherfilus-McCormick did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in November indicted Cherfilus-McCormick on charges of stealing federal COVID-19 disaster funds and funneling some of the money to her campaign, participating in a straw donor scheme and conspiring to file a false federal tax return. She faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted.

The Florida Democrat has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment at a Miami federal court on Feb. 3, though she was not present for the proceedings.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s prospects to represent the deep-blue Fort Lauderdale-based seat for another term look increasingly dim.

A Listener Group-Political Matrix News survey released Monday found that just 22% of likely primary voters in her district believe the indicted congresswoman should remain in office and run for reelection. She also has a -30% favorability rating with just two in ten respondents approving of her job performance ahead of the August 2026 primary.

Cherfilus-McCormick is also vulnerable to primary opponent, Elijah Manley, a 26-year-old activist challenging her from the left. Manley leads Cherfilus-McCormick 38% to 35% in a hypothetical matchup with former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness registering 10% support, according to the survey.

The survey of 300 likely primary voters was conducted between Feb. 2-4 and has a margin of error of 3%.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s reelection campaign also reported a lackluster $119,000 fundraising haul during 2025’s fourth quarter while spending $110,000 on legal fees, according to a recent Federal Election Commission filing.

Manley came close to outraising the incumbent lawmaker with a $79,000 haul while Holness brought in $140,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025, which runs from October to December.

Cherfilus-McCormick is also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee investigation for a lengthy list of allegations, including accepting illegal donations and knowingly reporting inaccurate information on campaign finance and financial disclosure forms. The panel found “substantial evidence” the Florida Democrat committed conduct outlined in the federal indictment.