Jamaica-born Dale Holness to make 3rd bid for US Congress
by Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer · The GleanerJamaica-born Florida politician Dale Holness is making another bid to try and win a congressional seat. This will be Holness’ third attempt at winning the congressional election for District 20 in Florida.
He lost a special election in 2020 by just five votes and came up short in the elections held in 2022.
Should Holness be successful in his bid this time around, he would become the first Jamaica-born individual to sit in the United States Congress.
He has filed all necessary documents with the federal government to run in the Democratic Party primary set for August 18, 2026. The winner of the primary is almost assured of election to Congress in the usually reliable democratic district.
So far, three people have filed with the federal government to run in the elections, including the sitting Congresswoman Sheila Cherflus-McCormick. However, she is currently under federal indictment for allegedly stealing US$5 million in funds meant for COVID -19 vaccination staffing and using it for her last campaign. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Holness told The Gleaner that he is currently raising funds for his campaign. According to him, so far, he has raised over US$200,000 and he is hoping to meet the goal of raising US$1 million to fully fund his campaign.
“I have been getting very good support among constituents and I am confident that, this time around, I will be successful,” he said.
Holness said his campaign is being built around affordability as citizens continue to face high prices, high mortgage rates and receding prospects of owning a home.
“Thirteen per cent of the people currently live in poverty in Florida,” he said, quoting a recent study on poverty levels in the state.
According to Holness, young people coming out of school are having difficulties finding jobs that will allow them to meet everyday living expenses.
“Most people in Florida are living pay cheque to pay cheque and cannot meet the requirements to lift themselves and their families out of poverty,” he said.
Holness hopes to attract, to the constituency, the kind of industries that will bring high-paying jobs.
“Given our location in the state of Florida we should be able to attract the kind of industries that will lift the standard of living of the people in the district,” he said.
He praised, as a major milestone for Broward County, the grand opening of the Omni Hotel at the Broward County Convention Center, a unionised living wage workplace.
“As mayor/commissioner, I was proud to be deeply involved in advocating for the convention centre expansion and this world-class hotel. An investment that strengthens our tourism industry, creates jobs, and drives long-term economic growth for our community. This project reflects what’s possible when vision, partnership, and public service come together to move Broward forward,” he said.
Holness said he was building his campaign around education, small business development and attracting investment to the district.
The congressional district has a population of just over 700,000 people. Blacks make up just over 52 per cent of the population with whites making up about 40 per cent. The district has the largest population of Jamaicans in South Florida, taking in Broward County and Palm Beach county.
Males make up 48 per cent of the population while females comprise just over 52 per cent of the population.
Dr Allan Cunningham, Jamaica-born community activist and head of Jamaicans For Broward County, said he was supporting Holness’ campaign because he has been a champion for small business and economic development.
Cunningham described Holness as “a true humanitarian and strategic leader who represents the entire south Florida community. My family and I fully support his bid for Congress, as we know that he will be our voice in Washington”.
He is urging Jamaicans in the district to rally behind Holness’ campaign.