Why FL-20 Must Stay Rooted in Our Community | Dr. Kedner Maxime

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar." (Matthew 22:21)

Florida's 20th Congressional District is more than a line on a map. It is a historic anchor of Black political power in our state, built on decades of community sacrifice. This is the district that gave us leaders like Alcee Hastings. It belongs to the people who built it.

I know this district because I have lived in it. I came to this country from Haiti in 1981, at 18 years old, and for more than 30 years I have called Oakland Park home, as a pastor, a small business owner, and a neighbor helping families with their taxes and immigration paperwork through Adventfirst Consulting Services.

That is why what happened this past election should concern every one of us. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, used her power and influence to take this seat away from the Black community. That is unacceptable.

A healthy community lifts up its own next generation of leaders. We cannot allow an entrenched, high-profile incumbent from outside our community to disrupt the leadership pipeline we spent decades building. We are already fighting efforts by our opponents to dismantle minority representation. We should not also stand by while safe-seat incumbents move into rare majority- and plurality-Black districts to replace us.

We can do something about it this November.

I have been a Democrat my whole life. I chose to run as an independent because I believe this seat must stay rooted in the community it was built to serve, and because voters deserve a real choice.

This is also bigger than one district. The world is changing. Other nations no longer see the United States as the only superpower. Now is the time for us to be stronger and truly united, and to build a better future for all of us, no matter which party we belong to.

Only then can we tackle the issues that matter to every family:

• Healthcare for all

• Lower gas prices

• Lower everyday costs, including property insurance

• An end to wars overseas

• Affordable housing

• Pathways to legal immigration status for people who contribute to our communities and obey the law

And when I am elected as your next U.S. Congressman for Florida's 20th District, I will fight for Black representation every single day.

Join Us

Roll up your sleeves with the campaign, make a donation to keep this movement going, or see where I will be next in the community. You can reach the campaign at (954) 671-7402 or campaign@maximeforcongress.com. And please share this message with your family, your church, and your neighbors.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and early voting runs October 19 through November 1. This seat belongs to our community. Let's keep it that way.

— Dr. Kedner Maxime, Independent for Congress, FL-20