Michael Carbonara officially entered the race for Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District today, announcing his bid to unseat longtime incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The announcement came live during a broadcast of the Florida’s Voice radio program with host Drew Steele, following the adoption of a Senate-passed congressional map earlier this week.
The redrawn boundaries for FL-22, which went into effect on April 29, 2026, create a district that now includes Hendry County, the Immokalee area of Collier County, western Palm Beach County, and a significant portion of Broward County. Carbonara, a resident of Southwest Ranches, noted that the new lines now encompass his home community.
“The lines may have changed, but the cause and the community I am running to represent are still the same,” Carbonara said during his radio appearance. “Democrats have taken away our freedoms, and I am running to restore them.”
READ: DeSantis Defies “Brooklyn Machine,” Challenges Hakeem Jeffries Over New Florida Maps
Carbonara enters the general election cycle with a significant financial advantage. To date, his campaign has reported raising over $2.5 million, a figure that currently outpaces Wasserman Schultz’s fundraising totals.
Before the map was finalized, Carbonara had already secured a series of endorsements from local mayors, commissioners, and Republican clubs throughout the South Florida region.
Wasserman Schultz has held the seat under its previous configuration for two decades. Carbonara focused his announcement on the length of her tenure and his desire for a shift in leadership.
“Whatever district she runs in, I am running to represent my community,” Carbonara stated. “South Florida has waited long enough for representation that delivers on freedom, affordability, and safety, instead of the same career politician who has been there for two decades.”
An entrepreneur with a background in payments, technology, and fertility care, Carbonara has centered his platform on constitutional freedoms and economic affordability.
He lives in South Florida with his wife and children. His campaign stated that his professional experience in banking and cryptocurrency would inform his approach to federal policy.
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