Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Becomes 2nd Haitian American in Congress

Politics

By Alyssa Wilson Published: January 21, 2022

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Becomes 2nd Haitian American in Congress

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., administers the House oath of office to Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla. during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election Florida's 20th congressional district to fill the seat left vacant after Rep. Alcee Hastings's death last year. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

In Summary

After previously failing to win the primary twice, Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election by just 10 votes.

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was sworn into Congress Tuesday, making her the second Haitian American to hold the office.

This is only the beginning. #yourcongresswoman pic.twitter.com/4ruM8etWaV
— Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, JD (@Sheila4Congress) January 19, 2022

According to The Hill, Cherfilus-McCormick won a special election succeeding Rep. Alcee Hastings in the 20th Congressional District of Florida. Hastings died in April 2021 from pancreatic cancer.

She won over voters with her promise to push for $1,000 stimulus payments for adults whose annual income is less than $75,000 a year. Her competitor, Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, has sued to overturn the election results. Holness claims Cherfilus-McCormick failed to hand in financial disclosure documents and said she bribed voters with her promise of stimulus payments.

Congratulations Congresswoman-Elect @Sheila4Congress! 1st Haitian-American Democrat to serve in the U.S. Congress!

#FL20 #Florida #HaitianProfessional pic.twitter.com/btJF9qoH4v
— NAAHP HAITI (@NAAHPHaiti) January 18, 2022

As a Haitian immigrant, she told members of the House about her parents’ immigration story and the sacrifices they made to come to the United States, The Associated Press reported. She said, “I think my colleagues who fought for me even before I was born to ensure that immigrants can actually have a place in our country and live the American dream.”