20th Congressional District candidates
Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, 41, of Miramar, is a lawyer and CEO of home health care company Trinity Healthcare Services.
Cherfilus-McCormick earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University, one of the top schools among the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
After working toward a master’s in business administration at the University of Maryland, she earned a law degree from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. Her husband, her siblings and her husband’s siblings are all Howard alums.
She unsuccessfully challenged then-U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings in the 2018 and 2020 primaries. She won the Nov. 2 special primary held to fill the vacancy created by Hastings’ death, by five votes.
Republican Jason Mariner, 36, who lives west of Boynton Beach, is the founder of an advertising business.
He served about two years in jail for on felony drug and theft charges he said stemmed from an injury that led to an addition to prescription drugs. He was open with voters and news organizations during his campaign about his criminal background, promising he will be tough on crime.
Libertarian Mike ter Maat, 60, of Hollywood spent 11 years in a second career as a police officer on road patrol in Hallandale Beach. His previous career was teaching college and university economics. He served a stint as a White House staff economist.
No Party Affiliation candidate Jim Flynn of West Palm Beach works in real estate.
No Party Affiliation candidate Leonard Serratore, 66, of West Palm Beach, is a supervisor at Palm Beach International Airport. He’s previously run for County Commission.