Submitted by Joy Howell
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Florida House Democratic Leader, Rep. Bobby DuBose (District 94), today announced that he is running for the seat recently vacated by Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (District 20). Hastings had served from 1993 until his death earlier this month. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to announce a special election in the next few weeks to be held later this year to fill the seat.
In announcing his run, Leader DuBose said, “I have dedicated my life to public service and fighting for our community from becoming president of our local NAACP Youth Council as a teenager to Leader of the Democratic caucus in the Florida House of Representatives. I know that we have an opportunity right now to make sure that we have a country that does not just talk about justice and fairness for all, but that actually makes it real,” he said. “I will be the people’s voice in Congress, in the great leadership tradition of our national leader Congressman Alcee Hastings, whose legacy looms large and guides our actions. I will do my best to fulfill its promise.”
The 50-year-old has served as a Commissioner and Vice Mayor in the City of Fort Lauderdale from 2009 to 2014. DuBose then ran for the Florida House of Representatives in which he recently was re-elected again in 2020 with almost 70% of the vote. DuBose is a proud Florida Gator, graduating from the University of Florida and a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
DuBose has quickly built a reputation as an outspoken member of the Florida House of Representatives on issues of human rights, voting rights and disability rights for all Americans which led to his colleagues selecting him during the last legislative session as Leader of the House Democrats. He considers himself a “fighter” for the things he believes people care most about — like fixing our broken unemployment system, protecting people’s First Amendment rights to peacefully speak and assemble as well as fighting to raise the federal minimum wage above $7.25 an hour.
Leader DuBose has also been a champion for legislation that would allocate emergency COVID-19 relief for low-income people, expand early voting, and restrict law enforcement from using certain military-grade equipment.
After hosting a kick-off rally at his childhood home in Fort Lauderdale, Leader DuBose pledges to meet as many constituents as possible in Congressional District 20 to hear firsthand all the concerns and issues of the community.
