Teachers union leader backs Debbie Wasserman Schultz in CD 20

The head of Broward County’s top teachers union says she wants U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to remain in Congress.

Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco is endorsing the Weston Democrat as she controversially runs in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.

“Debbie has supported every educator in public schools since she stepped foot in office, and she’s our biggest fighter in Congress,” Fusco said. “She’s an advocate for our students and public education. She cares about the people, she cares about the children, she cares about the community, cares about our public schools.”

Wasserman Schultz has withered criticism since deciding, following a mid-decade redistricting that dismantled Democrat-held South Florida seats, to run in a district historically represented by Black lawmakers.

But Wasserman Schultz has stressed the need for Broward County to have strong representation with seniority in Congress. She has served in Congress more than 20 years and is part of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ leadership team.

“The most important thing was where and whether I could best represent the people of Broward County and ensure that (Gov.) Ron DeSantis isn’t able to dismantle and take apart Broward County’s clout and power,” she told Florida Politics after announcing her re-election campaign.

Fusco seemed to echo the same concerns, and said Wasserman Schultz had been a voice for all of Broward County in Congress.

“No matter who she’s with, no matter who she’s around, no matter who she goes up against, she doesn’t change,” Fusco said.

“She’s not a chameleon, she says what she does, and she does what she says, and I think that is a unique quality in Debbie that most people don’t have, because the biggest thing is because they’re afraid, and Debbie’s not afraid. Sitting in Congress, when we have such turmoil going on in our country and the unknown, we need stability, we need strength, we need experience, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz is that person.”

Fusco is one of several of community leaders voicing support for Wasserman Schultz, who is currently in a Democratic Primary against rapper-turned-community leader Luther Campbell, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherflus-McCormick, former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and progressive activist and teacher Elijah Manley.