Florida’s August 18 primaries could produce the state’s first openly gay member of Congress. Three Democrats in South Florida (Elijah Manley, Shevrin Jones and Kendrick Meek Jr.) and one Republican in the Panhandle (Keith Gross) are competitive, but none is a prohibitive favorite. Key factors include redistricting, heavy self-funding, endorsements from major LGBTQ organizations and the legacy of Black political representation in South Florida.
Florida Primaries Could Elect The State’s First Openly Gay Member Of Congress
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Next week’s congressional primaries in Florida could produce a historic milestone: the state’s first openly gay member of the U.S. House. Three Democratic candidates in South Florida and one Republican in the conservative Panhandle are well-positioned to advance, though none has a clear, guaranteed path to victory.
What’s At Stake
If any of these candidates wins in November, it would be the first time an openly gay man is elected to Congress from the traditional Deep South — a significant development for LGBTQ+ representation in a region with a long history of conservative politics.
Candidates To Watch
Elijah Manley (D) — A gay, Black, Jewish Gen Zer running in the newly drawn 20th District near Fort Lauderdale. Manley entered the race amid controversy surrounding then-Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s fundraising and later indictment. Redistricting shifted the district’s lines, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz opted to run there, sparking debate about representation in a historically Black seat. Manley argues that his candidacy uniquely bridges Black and LGBTQ communities in the district.
Shevrin Jones (D) — The first openly gay person elected to the Florida Senate. Jones is running in the 24th District and emphasizes a record of constituent service and historic precedent after winning state legislative office despite past opposition.
Kendrick Meek Jr. (D) — An openly gay candidate from a prominent political family: his grandmother, Carrie Meek, helped reestablish Black representation in Florida when she won a House seat in 1992, and his father later held that seat. Meek Jr. serves on the board of SAVE LGBTQ and frames his campaign as continuing his family’s legacy.
Keith Gross (R) — A gay, self-described MAGA Republican running in Florida’s 2nd District in the Panhandle. Gross has largely self-funded his campaign (more than $11 million reported) and leads or competes near the top in several GOP polls. He has accepted an endorsement from the Log Cabin Republicans but has distanced himself from transgender-rights advocacy.
District Dynamics
Redistricting has reshaped several South Florida seats, reducing the number of Democratic-leaning districts and provoking intense competition. The Panhandle 2nd District is strongly conservative (more than 58% backed Trump in 2024), making the GOP primary winner the likely favorite for November. In South Florida’s 24th District, the departure of Rep. Frederica Wilson has opened a competitive Democratic primary that includes Jones, Meek Jr., and several other candidates.
Endorsements, Money And Momentum
Endorsements from organizations such as Equality Florida, SAVE LGBTQ and the Log Cabin Republicans matter in these contests. Self-funding has been a decisive factor in the Panhandle race: Gross’s more than $11 million in spending has put him near the front despite a crowded field. In South Florida, incumbents and well-funded challengers — such as Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the 20th — add to the complexity for candidates like Manley.
"Florida has been the belly of the beast against LGBTQ rights... I think it would be a devastating blow to the homophobes to have the first openly gay member this year," Elijah Manley told The Advocate.
Why This Matters
These primaries test shifting political dynamics: the role of race and representation in South Florida, the influence of self-funding and endorsements in conservative districts, and the growing number of viable LGBTQ candidates seeking federal office. Observers say the presence of multiple credible openly gay candidates increases the likelihood that Florida will send at least one openly gay representative to Congress.
What To Watch On August 18
- Which Democratic candidates advance in South Florida’s crowded primaries (Districts 20 and 24).
- Whether Keith Gross or a social conservative emerges from the Panhandle GOP primary and how self-funding shapes the outcome.
- How endorsements and the distribution of Black and LGBTQ votes affect the races.
This article originally appeared in The Advocate and has been edited for clarity and flow.
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